Absinthe Green Fairy is an alcoholic drink with a history worth noticing. It has become one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time after it was developed in 1800.
Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is incredibly strong, and it contains between 45 to 75% Alcohol by volume. It is emerald green in color, hence the name “Green Fairy” or in French “La Fee Verte”. It is a distilled liquor produced by distillation with herbs. The three herbs that tend to be wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium) ,fennel (fennell) and green aniseed. Henri-Louis Pernod known distilling Absinthe commercially for the first time, used other herbs such as lemon balm, nutmeg, veronica, juniper,star anise and dittany to make his famous and first ever 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 do not dissolve in water and so cause the Absinthe to louche.
The Role of Absinthe Green Fairy In the Art World
Absinthe is responsible for inspiring a number of artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. Famous Absinthe drinkers include major personalities like Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. Many writers and artists were convinced that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Painters and sculpturists like Van Gogh and Picasso even featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.
Old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect and their association with Absinthe was just the excuse that prohibition campaigners needed. Once it was held accountable for 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. THC in cannabis and Thujone were thought to be of similar pharmacology. 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. 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 in many countries however thujone levels are restricted in most countries.
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!