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Sweet and spicy foods like chocolate, strawberries, and chile peppers get lots of attention around Valentine’s Day for their supposed mood-enhancing properties. I’ve always found the aphrodisiac-foods theory suspect because I consume excessive amounts of hot sauce and not once has it inspired me to escort my husband to the bedroom.
While the power of aphrodisiac foods might be mostly one of suggestion (ahem, oysters), certain spices like cinnamon, cayenne, and ginger can awaken the “love senses” by making your mouth all tingly. Some even increase blood flow to the entire body, and if you passed eighth-grade health class, you know exactly what I’m implying.
In that spirit, here are 19 ways to spice up your Valentine’s Day with actual spices. No, these items alone probably won’t actually get you in the mood, but they won’t hurt the situation, either—especially because we’re going for subtle spice, not “Oh god, what have I done to my insides?”
Warming spices
Before you start cooking that spicy Valentine's Day dinner, check the best-by-date on your ground spices, smell them, then take a good look at the color. Even if they haven't technically expired, they've likely lost some of their oomph. A good rule of thumb? If you bought a ground spice before the pandemic, it’s time to toss it. Then refresh your spice cabinet with one of these warming spice sets.
Spicy sweets
Honey Mama’s Spicy Dark Cocoa Truffle Bar
Honey Mama’s honey-sweetened, dairy-free chocolate bars are a favorite among Epi and BA staffers for their dreamy texture and fun flavors. The Ginger Cardamom Cocoa Truffle bar has a pleasant, lightly-spiced kick.
365 Gingersnap Cookies
Yes, I’m really recommending a box of store-bought cookies. These 365 Whole Foods Market gingersnaps are super crispy, perfectly spicy, and not too sweet. Arrange them on a pretty little plate or add them to your fancy cheese board, then hide (recycle) the box, and enjoy.
Chocolove Chiles & Cherries in Dark Chocolate Bar
Chocolove’s dark chocolate bars are ubiquitous in grocery stores from coast to coast, and that’s because they’re actually really good! Still, not every flavor is easily accessible—the Chiles & Cherries bar may be harder to find at your local Kroger than some of the other flavors, so ordering online is probably your best bet.
Old-school cinnamon candy
Cinnamon candy doesn’t get enough love from the over-14 crowd but these nostalgia-inducing confections will give you the same spicy rush as a fancy chocolate bar with hand-picked chiles. And, sure, the artificial dyes might temporarily turn your mouth a cartoonish shade of red, but you’ll also have nice breath.
Spicy sauces and condiments
Brightland Ardor Chili Olive Oil
As a rule, we tend to stay away from infused staples because they’re so easy to make in small quantities at home, but Brightland’s Ardor chili olive oil is a beautiful finishing oil that can add a spicy kick to just about any dish—without the garlic breath you might get from other spicy condiments.
Acid League Garden Heat Living Vinegar
Acid League’s living vinegars are so good that some Epi staffers use them in cocktails. The Garden Heat flavor, made with carrot, celery, and jalapeño juices, will add a spicy, savory kick to Bloody Marys, soups, salads, fish, and so much more.
Divina Chili Fig Spread
Spice up your Valentine’s Day charcuterie board with this sweet-and-spicy chile-pepper fig jam. You can also use it to glaze grilled meats or elevate a simple grilled cheese sandwich.
Mike’s Hot Honey
The question is not “What can you use hot honey for?” but “What can’t you use hot honey for?” and I’m having a hard time coming up with an answer. I’ve used it for just about anything that would benefit from a little sweet heat, including cocktails, meat marinades, salad dressings, and even tomato sauce. And because some like it hotter, Mike’s also offers extra-hot honey.
Spicy spirits and mixers
Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur
This brightly-hued spirit is exactly what it says it is: an intense ginger liqueur. Spicier than its French predecessor Domaine de Canton, it's still a little on the sweet side (like most ginger drinks), so serve it with seltzer and lime or incorporate it into a more complex cocktail.
Ancho Reyes Chile Ancho Liqueur
A spicy liqueur doesn't need to punch you in the face (yes, we're talking to you, Fireball) and Ancho Reyes masters the art of subtle spice with this sweet and spicy Chile Ancho Liqueur. Infused with sun-dried chile poblanos, it can be served neat or sipped on the rocks, but it really shines when added to fruit-forward cocktails like daiquiris.
Wilfred's Non-Alcoholic Bittersweet Aperitif
This non-alcoholic aperitif has the bitter, spicy notes you might expect from Campari but with the addition of spicy, warm clove. Epi’s digital director, Maggie Hoffman, recommends using it in a toddy or non-alcoholic spritz. Serve alongside a plate of Valentine’s Day cookies.
Slowburn non-alcoholic spirit
I’ve been drinking coffee and alcohol for longer than I should probably admit, so the subtlety of “functional” beverages is mostly lost on me; my real concern is taste. When I first tried this brown-ish “alcohol-free functional spirit” I wasn’t in love. It hit some of the right notes (namely tart and spicy), but it wasn’t balanced enough to stand on its own as a drink. Then I realized it’s really meant to be a mixer, so I shook it with a little honey syrup and topped it off with Topo Chico and I haven’t stopped sipping it since.
Spicy ginger beer
Ginger beer is perhaps best known for its place in a Moscow Mule, but it can also hold its own as a non-alcoholic drink—as long as it’s a truly spicy brew like Fentimans or Reed’s. You can swig these sweet-and-spicy sodas straight from the bottle, but for something a little more festive, serve extra cold in a Collins glass with a giant ice cube and a squeeze of lime.
Gris Gris Cocktail Magic Hot Pepper Simple Syrups
Yes, it's easy to make your own simple syrup—even an infused one—but sometimes you just want to buy the damn thing. And for those moments, there's Gris Gris Magic Hot Pepper Simple Syrups. Made in small batches and packaged in giftable glass bottles, these spicy syrups are available in two flavors: Jalapeño Hex and Habanero Basil.
