Absinthe Green Fairy: Have You Ever Used It?
There is an interesting history to the alcoholic dirink Absinthe Green Fairy. Originated as an elixir or tonic it is now one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time.
By definition Absinthe is strong anise flavored spirit containing 45 to 75% Alcohol by volume. The name “Green Fairy” is primarily due to its emerald green colour. It is simply a distilled liquor made from herbs. The three main herbs tend to be Artemisia Absinthium , fennell and green aniseed. Henri-Louis Pernod who is credited for first ever commercial distillation of Absinthe used other herbs produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Other ingrediants such as the herb 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 known for inspiring many artists and writers of the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area located at Paris. Famous Absinthe drinkers include Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. A lot of writers and artists claim that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso showed Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.
Absinthe’s association tragedies like old Montmartre, Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was just the excuse that prohibition advocates needed. Once it was linked with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France it was easy for campaigners to get the sale of Absinthe made illegal and it was banned in France in 1915. Other countries also banned it but it remained legal in the the UK, Spain and Portugal.
A wormwood chemical commonly known as thujone was blamed for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. Thujone was thought to produce similar action like THC in cannabis. However Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol, and therefore only contains minute quanitities of thujone. Research proves that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and that it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. Many studies and articles have been written on the subject. If you remember that it is twice of whisky and drink it with care and in moderation, it is simply a drink which gives pleasure.
During the time of prohibition Czech Republic flourished with vintage style Absinthe in Absinthe bars where Absinthe was served in the classic Absinthe large glasses and in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. 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!