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As Absinthe has become a popular drink and with the legalization of a few brands of it one can experience an Absinthe revival. Yet, some people don’t really know how to use Absinthe correctly or even what Absinthe is.

What is Absinthe

Absinthe is not a hallucinogen or a drug. It is a strong alcoholic beverage with an alcohol by volume of up to 75% and an anise flavor.

Absinthe was created as a medicine by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century. Henri-Louis Pernod was distilling Absinthe and selling it commercially by the turn of the 19th century. Pernod used a wine alcohol base distilled with various types of natural herbs comprising wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), fennel, aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, angelica, juniper, dittany, nutmeg and melissa.

The popularity of wine decreased in France in comparison to Absinthe. Absinthe bars became popular and the “Ritual” or traditional method of using and preparing Absinthe was born.

Absinthe was banned in France in 1915 because of it allegedly dangerous effects. It is now known that there is no truth in these claims. One cannot suffer with such effects due to intake of Absinthe. In most of the nations Absinthe was legalized in the 1990s.

How to Use Absinthe the Traditional Way

To prepare Absinthe in the traditional way is to use the “Ritual”.
Following things are needed :-
– One must have the Absinthe glass or a large glass.
– Absinthe
– An Absinthe spoon– replica glasses and spoons can be purchased online at AbsintheKit.AbsintheKit.com makes a person available with top-quality Absinthe essences which he can use to prepare his own Absinthe. Top-quality Absinthe essences can be used to make own Absinthe.
– A sugar cube is needed.
– Iced water carafe.

Pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass.
After resting the spoon on the rim of the glass put the sugar cube on it.
The sugar can be mixed by dripping slowly the iced water over it.
One can see the Absinthe louche as the water mixes into the Absinthe. Because of insolubility of the essential oils in the water the mixture gets cloudy.
A person can enjoy the taste of the Green Fairy after stirring his Absinthe.

It is very easy to get drunk on Absinthe though it does not give hallucinations. Absinthe is made out of a curious blend of herbs that are either naturally relaxing in nature or are stimulants. This blend of herbs can give a very different drunkenness effect than the others. It is also described as a “clear headed” drunkenness.

The Czech or Bohemian Method

With this method, once you have poured the shot of Absinthe into the glass you dip the sugar cube into the alcohol and then set it alight on the spoon with a match. A person can add the iced water after the sugar has caramelized and melted from the spoon into the Absinthe.

Drinking Absinthe becomes a little enjoyful with the Bohemian method. It can be risky as the whole glass of Absinthe can catch fire, a bit of a waste of Absinthe! Take care.

Though the Ritual is the most popular way of using Absinthe but it can also be used in cocktails.

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When you have bought or made your own Absinthehow to prepare it is the next issue because Absinthe is not like any other alcoholic beverage, it is usually served diluted with iced water. In La Belle Epoque in France and Switzerland the serving of Absinthe was done in the traditional manner. It is popular as “The Ritual” or “La Louche” and is easy to learn.

Absinthe How to Prepare using The Ritual

To perform the Ritual, you will need the following:-

- Absinthe – A good quality Absinthe containing real herbal ingredients such as wormwood, aniseed and fennel. Thujone should be the content of Absinthe.
– A person will require an Absinthe glass – An antique Absinthe glass or replica one. One can get replicas of antiques from AbsintheKit.com.
– A slotted Absinthe spoon (also known as a cuillere).
– Take a cube of sugar.
– It is good to use iced water in a carafe or in an Absinthe fountain.

Instructions for preparing the perfect Absinthe drink:-

- Pour 25-50ml of Absinthe into the glass.
– Keep a cube of sugar on it resting Absinthe spoon over the rim of the glass.
– Gradually drip iced water over the sugar from the tap of the fountain or from a bottle. When it is drip slowly then the sugar get chance to dissolve and drip through the slots of the spoon. One must see a lovely “louche” effect after mixing the water into the alcohol. The Absinthe louches because the essential oils of the herbs are not soluble in water.
– Sit back and enjoy the Green Fairy, as Absinthe is commonly known.

The Bohemian or Czech Method

This method of preparing Absintheis not traditional but is a modern way of preparing cheap Czech Absinthes. The Bohemian method is not appreciated by many Absinthe followers.

You will need:-

- Absinthe
– Importance of an Absinthe glass
– Necessity of an Absinthe slotted spoon
– Necessity of a cube of sugar
– Necessity of a lighter or match
– Iced water

Instructions and tips for using the Bohemian method:-

- Pour 25-50ml of Absinthe into the glass and dip the sugar cube into it to soak the sugar.
– The process is to place sugar cube on the Absinthe spoon and rest on the rim of the glass.
– The sugar cube should be kept alight for sometime to caramelize and melt. The right way is to drip the sugar through the slots of the spoon into the Absinthe.
– One has to keep the spoon into the Absinthe and pour the iced water into it for releasing the flames and causing the Absinthe to louche.
– A person can enjoy his Absinthe drink.

* Care should be taken with this method because the Absinthe in the glass may set alight too *

Absinthe can also be used in many cocktails. Ernest Hemingway is famous about mixing it with champagne and called it “Death in the Afternoon”.

A lot of mysteries, stories and legends are there surrounding Absinthe. Now it is ready to give the enjoyment to the drinker.

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