Planning to cook for your significant other this Valentine’s Day? Make sure to use a copious amount of aphrodisiacs. These special ingredients can apparently have an effect on your mood and desires, stirring up romantic feelings in you and your partner.

Since it’s the month of love, we got to talk to Sam Linder, Chef de Cuisine of The Peninsula Manila’s Old Manila Restaurant, about common aphrodisiacs. But before you begin, first make sure that the mood is right.

“The mind is the most potent aphrodisiac there is,” says Chef Sam. “It’s really all about the mood, about how you approach it, and the food is just a small part of it. The food suddenly becomes very important if everyone is in the right mood. But if not, you can cook whatever you want, and it won’t help.”

Scroll through the gallery below to see the ingredients you should be adding to your shopping list in preparation for the most romantic meal you’ll ever whip up, as well as some tips on how you can prepare them for the big day.

(Photo by Mike Dee)