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Absinthe also called as the green fairy

October 12, 2009

Absinthe the Green Fairy

Absinthe La Fee Verte or Green Fairy is a alcoholic drink that has a lot of history behind it. From humble beginnings that saw it being developed as tonic in the 18th century it today commands respect as the most famous and controversial drinks of all times.

Absinthe is strong as it has between 45 to 75% alcohol by volume it is also ansie flavored. The name “Green Fairy” in English or “La Fee Verte” in french is because of its emerald green color. This distilled liquor is made from herbs. Fennel, green aniseed, and wormwood or Artemisia Absinthium are the main herbs. The famous Pernod Absinthe recipe was first produced by Henri-Louis Pernod using herbs such as hyssop, lemon balm, veronica, juniper, nutmeg, dittany, and star anise, he also was the first person to commercially distill Absinthe. The psychoactive properties were attributed to herbs like wormwood, nutmeg, and in some cases calamus which some manufacturers used. Essential oils in the herbs that are the ingredients of Absinthe are not water soluble and hence you see the louche effect when water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. The oils in Absinthe are not soluble and hence it louches or clouds.

The Green Fairy Absinthe

Absinthe Green Fairy and the world of Painters and Artists

Montemartre area of Paris and the Bohemian culture inspired artists and writers were also famously inspired by Absinthe. Pablo Picasso,Charles Baudelaire, Ernest Hemingway,Paul Gauguin, Edgar Degas,Vincent Van Gough and Oscar Wilde were some of the famous Absinthe drinkers. Artists and writers were convinced that their genius and inspiration was given by Absinthe. Absinthe drinkers and Absinthe even featured in the paintings of painters like Van Gogh and Picasso.

Absinthe’s association with the Bohemian sect, Moulin Rouge, and Old Montmartre proved to be its undoing as it was just the excuse the prohibition campaigners were looking for. Absinthe got linked to alcohol addiction, family problems, and murders due to the sustained efforts of prohibition campaigners and this finally resulted in it being made illegal and banned in France in the year 1915. Other countries also banned it but it remained legal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.

Wormwood has a chemical called thujone which was blamed for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. Thujone was considered to be similar to THC present in cannabis. Alcohol and ethanol are the main ingredients of Absinthe and thujone if any is present in very minute quantities. High alcohol content in Absinthe is deemed as dangerous and not thujone, this has been proved by studies and research conducted over the past several years. Many 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.

Vintage Absinthe posters adorned the walls of Absinthe bars and Absinthe served in large classic absinthe glasses were favored by many people during the time of prohibition. By 2008, many countries legalised Absinthe however, in the EU the thujone levels are controlled and the US only allows absinthe with trace amounts of thujone.

To order your absinthe bottle or absinthe essence visit the website AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. Absinthes produced for the US market are devoid of wormwood that is the vital ingredient in real Absinthe essences and Absinthe drinks.

The Green Fairy Absinthe a truly decandent drink can be prepared with this delicious spirit by mixing it with champagne! Just for your Knowledge Asinthe kit is the best way to get economical Absinthe.

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