Lots of people already know that Absinthe is unique, that it’s not like other alcohol-based drinks. By why is this? How is it different? What does Absinthe do?
Absinthe, also known as the Green Fairy, is a fantastic anise flavored liquor that is made from distilling alcohol with a recipe of herbs such as wormwood, fennel and also aniseed. The wormwood (artemisia asbinthium) is the herb that provides Absinthe its name as well as its characteristic slight bitter taste. Wormwood is additionally the key reason why Absinthe was prohibited in the early 1900s.
The medical industry as well as the prohibition movement, during the late nineteenth century and early 20th century, were determined to get Absinthe banned. They claimed that Absinthe contained large amounts of thujone, a chemical substance seen in wormwood, and therefore thujone was like THC in cannabis. They believed that Absinthe caused psychedelic effects like hallucinations and that made people addicted to Absinthe and driven them to insanity. It was even alleged that Absinthe caused a person to murder his family absinthe fountain.
Absinthe was ultimately forbidden in lots of countries during the early 1900s because governments thought that Absinthe was a danger. In countries where it had become illegal, Absinthe couldn’t be bought, sold or served. If people wanted Absinthe, they either had to have it transported from abroad or purchase bootleg clandestine Absinthe. Bootleggers in Switzerland distilled clear, or La Bleue, Absinthes to ensure that people would not note that it was Absinthe.
So, is Absinthe dangerous? Does it cause hallucinations? What does Absinthe do?
We now know that Absinthe is equally as safe as any strong spirit. Test and studies on antique Absinthe have shown that Absinthe didn’t contain huge amounts of thujone, only really small amounts, and therefore it couldn’t potentially cause hallucinations. Ted Breaux, an Absinthe distiller who examined vintage bottles of Absinthe, discovered that pre ban Absinthe only contained at most 6mg/kg of thujone. Absinthe with about10mg/kg of thujone is now legal within the EU and US but as Ted Breaux says “I would have to consume about three liters of Absinthe at the European limit to acquire any clinically apparent effects from thujone, and I’d be long dead from the alcohol by that point.”
Needless to say, Absinthe is an extremely strong liquor, about two times the effectiveness of whisky or vodka, so it will get you drunk effortlessly! The drunkenness from Absinthe is said to become a strange “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness where your thoughts is freed and your senses are increased – curious!
The main difference between Absinthe and also other beverages is the preparation involved with serving the perfect Absinthe. The traditional method of preparing the drink is called “The Ritual”. Follow the following information to produce the perfect Absinthe:-
– Get a high quality Absinthe containing wormwood from a shop or make your own working with essences from AbsintheKit.com.
– Pour a shot of Absinthe into an Absinthe glass.
– Place a sugar lump or cube on to a slotted Absinthe spoon.
– Drip iced water over the sugar so that the sugar dissolves in the Absinthe.
– Watch the Absinthe louche as the essential oils of the herbs come out of the alcohol and result in the mixture to cloud and go milky.
– Stir and serve.
A ratio of 3:1 to 5:1 water to Absinthe is the proposed dilution.
Take pleasure in your drink of the Green Fairy recommended reading.
So, what does Absinthe do? Well, it’s actually not harmful and it does not result in hallucinations but it could make you drunk, a weird drunkenness, and it’s a drink that louches when watered down. It is exactly what Absinthe does.