Absinthe Green Fairy has an interesting history. Developed as an elixir or tonic in the 18th century it is now one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time.
Absinthe is an incredibly strong spirit with anise flavor it contains between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. It is emerald green in color, hence the name “Green Fairy”. A distilled liquor made from herbs. The three herbs tend to be Artemisia Absinthium , fennell and green aniseed. Henri-Louis Pernod, who first commercially distilled Absinthe, used other herbs such as hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany to produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Some other natural ingredients like calamus were used by some manufacturers and this herb along with wormwood and nutmeg were though to be psychoactive. It is the essential oil extract from the herbs which causes Absinthe to louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. The oils are water insoluble and so cause the Absinthe to louche.
Absinthe Green Fairy Is Amazing
Absinthe is credited with inspiring a lot of artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area in the capital city of France. Popular Absinthe drinkers include Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Charles Baudelaire, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. Many writers and artists credit Absinthe for their inspiration and genius. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso showed Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.
Absinthe’s association with the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was a major boost prohibition campaigners needed. Absinthe made illegal and it was banned in France in 1915 after it was linked with murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France. It remained legal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal although many other countries banned it.
The chemical commonly known as thujone and is present in wormwood is attributed for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. Thujone was considered like THC in cannabis. However Absinthe contains primarily ethanol, and therefore only contains minute quantities of thujone. Research has shown that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and that it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. A number of studies and articles have been written on the subject. If you remember that it is about twice as strong as vodka or whisky and drink it with care and in moderation, it is simply a drink which gives pleasure.
In surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters, vintage style Absinthe in Absinthe bars in the Czech Republic were served during the Era of Ban. Now, in 2008, Absinthe is legal once again but with restrictions and United States only allows Absinthe with trace amounts of thujone.
You can buy Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences (visit the website AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. Real Absinthe and Absinthe kit contains the vital ingredient wormwood but some new Absinthes, produced for the US market, do not contain thujone.
Absinthe Green Fairy is a wonderful spirit and can be used in cocktails too!