When do oysters, licorice whips and vanilla become more than just simple nourishment or a quick sugar buzz? When Samantha Sade and Jordan LaRousse of Oysters & Chocolate are involved. They are the creators of this extremely popular erotic Web site geared toward women (though enjoyed by all) – for perusal, pleasure, and a push toward sexual stimulation.

“We have male contributors and male viewers, but we (originally) started this site because there was a lack of erotic and sexual content out there for women,” explains Sade.

“Everything we put on the site turns us on.” Though both are former students of CU Boulder, Sade and LaRousse met at an early age and have been friends ever since. After a night of champagne drinking and idea swapping, they decided to create oystersand chocolate.com – a site of fantasies formed through poetry, fiction, photographs and toys available for purchase through links. They receive submissions from all over the world. “Most English-speaking countries – U.K., Canada, Australia. We’ve had some from Israel, Spain. Our site includes over 500 contributors,” Sade says.

It began on July 4, 2005 – an independence day of sorts – for two creative businesswomen ready to turn people on through the art of erotica. “We really want to be current at all times,” says LaRousse. “From the beginning, our goal was quality. We told our Web team, ‘You need to make something that really stands out aesthetically and then of course, the content.’ So our goal is to keep developing, evolving, changing and making people happy.” “We have to keep abreast,” she adds, when asked about what they each read. The erotic anthologies of Violet Blue and Rachel Kramer Bussel are favored by both women. Soon to be added to this list are Sade and LaRousse. “We had an agent contact us (about putting together) an anthology,” Sade says. In May of 2009, just shy of the four-year anniversary of Oysters & Chocolate, NAL (a division of Penguin Group) will release the anthology, Oysters & Chocolate Erotica of Every Flavor, edited by Sade and LaRousse, which will include 20 erotic stories. “Our goal (is) to hit the New York Times bestseller list,” Sade exclaims.

It has not been an easy progression from idea to online erotica wonder world. “We hit some road blocks with the small business bureau in Boulder,” says Sade. “We asked for help on our business plan and they refused because of our industry. We are a part of Boulder. We are a part of this community.” People are obviously having sex here. On my way to the interview I passed by a condom wrapper. However, Oysters & Chocolate was recently blacklisted from Craigslist when it was pegged as porn. One might wonder what, if anything, differentiates erotica from pornography. It seems to be the question that often stirs up a room.

“One thing that we like to say is that you can take the sex out of erotica and you are still left with a great story,” says LaRousse. “You take the sex out of porn and you’re left with nothing. The one thing we have in common is different means to the same end. With erotica, our goal is not only to arouse the body but the imagination and all the senses.” “Erotica is like a chocolate soufflé paired with a glass of wine,” adds Sade. “It kind of rolls around in your mouth. It’s complicated. It stays with you. It’s like a meal in itself. Whereas porn is like a piece of candy. You pop it in your mouth, get that quick sugary burst, then you’re done.” “Definitely one of the reasons we started this site (was) to get beyond the stigma around women and sexuality,” Sade explains. “Personally, I want to touch all women out there. I think it is so important for women to be in tune with their sexuality and what turns them on. That adds to their sex life.” This goal is reflected in the diverse array of categories and sexualities represented on the Web site. “We have vanilla,” says LaRousse. “(This includes) straight sex, one on one. Can be romantic (and) a little bit dirty.

We have dirty martini, encompassing fetishes (such as) group sex, toys, voyeurism, masturbation in public – whatever you can imagine. We have licorice whips, which is BDSM, and Oysters, our lesbian erotica.” There is also banana split, their home for homoerotic stories, including one by Guyus Marks called “Lucious Licks in Vermont.” “I think we’ll move away at some point, but we’ll always come back,” says Sade. Good thing Oysters & Chocolate can be viewed and enjoyed no matter where you are. With just a click and time to browse, the site guarantees more than just foreplay – rather, a full release.