Deer penis

Lore & Background

In Nangang, Taiwan, women reportedly consume deer penis during pregnancy, believing it has a fattening effect and strengthens mother and child. The Mayans extracted and roasted deer penis, while Hippocrates recommended it to resolve sexual difficulties. During the 2008 Summer Olympics in China, deer penis wine was banned from athletes' diets because it may contain the banned herb Ephedra, and was listed alongside steroids and stimulants.

Reader's Guide

Deer penis holds significance in traditional Chinese medicine as a remedy for athletic injuries and as an aphrodisiac, often consumed soaked in alcohol as deer penis wine. Its availability spans from Taipei's Snake Alley to mainland Chinese restaurants like Guo Li Zhuang, and it is served as a soup delicacy in Singapore. The substance has also entered popular culture, referenced in films, television shows, and even a 2025 Russian song that satirizes supernatural tropes. Despite its historical and cultural use, its efficacy is not scientifically established, and its ban during the Olympics highlights concerns over banned substances.

Did You Know?

• Deer penis wine was banned from athletes' diets during the 2008 Summer Olympics in China due to possible Ephedra content.
• In Nangang, Taiwan, women consume deer penis during pregnancy for a fattening effect and to strengthen mother and child.
• Hippocrates recommended deer penis to resolve sexual difficulties.
• Deer penis is mentioned in the 1996 film The Glimmer Man and the 2009 episode of The Office.