Brazil’s clandestine ‘love honey’ sex stimulant poses dangerous health risk

São Paulo, Brazil, Oct 19 (EFE).- “Honey, honey, come buy love honey,” call out street vendors on March 25 Street, a popular shopping street in the heart of the Brazilian city of São Paulo.

The vendors are selling a sexual stimulant which has gained popularity among young people in Brazil despite it being banned by health authorities, which have labeled it a health hazard.

The ‘melzinho do amor,’ honey of love, is a newcomer on the popular street famous for selling illegal items including fake soccer jerseys, TV pirating devices and now, an illegal sexual enhancing medicine.

“It has become a vice,” says 21-year old street vendor, Kaue Roosevelt, who has set up a stall made with a cardboard box where he sells different brands of the ‘love honey.’

The ‘honey’ is sold in small packages similar to sugar sachets with golden letters reading ‘Power Honey’ or ‘Vital Honey’ depending on the brand.

One sachet costs between 25 and 30 reais ($4.5 and $5.3) and for those who want to bulk buy, a packet of twelve costs 150 reais, Kaue tells Efe.

“Our special formula gives you the vitality and performance you need for energy-filled days and nights,” reads the description of Power Honey.

Despite the different names, all brands have one thing in common: they market themselves as 100% natural.

The ingredients listed on the box include ginseng, caviar extract, maca, ginger, Malaysian honey, cinnamon, tongkat ali and coffee, all seemingly natural ingredients.

But an analysis by the Analytical Toxicology Laboratory of the State University of Campinas revealed that not all ingredients had been listed.