Since there has been an Absinthe revival in many countries over the past few years, many people are seeking Absinthe info.
Absinthe is a strong herbal liquor which is nicknamed “La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” because of its characteristic green color. It is distilled usually with a wine base and a variety of herbail ingredients, unlike the alcoholic beverages beer and cider which are fermented.
The main herb in Absinthe is common wormwood, artemisia absinthium, which gives Absinthe both its name and its distinctive bitter taste. Some “fake” Absinthes do not contain wormwood because thujone, from wormwood, was strictly regulated in countries like the USA and proper wormwood Absinthe was banned.
Other types of herbs and essential oils used in Absinthe production include Fennel, green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, juniper, angelica, licorice, dittany, coriander, nutmeg and sweet flag. It is the essential oils in Absinthe which cause the drink to louche when water is added. The oils are soluble in alcohol but not in water and so cause the drink to go cloudy.
Absinthe Info about the Ban
The prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe was harmful and that drinking Absinthe led to “Absinthism” which was characterized by convulsions, fits, madness, brain damage and ultimately death. Thujone, the chemical found in wormwood, was claimed to cause psychedelic effects and to be dangerous. It was thought that Absinthe contained a high quantity of thujone and was extremely toxic and dangerous. Absinthe was banned in many countries around the world in the early 1900s.
We now know that these statements and claims regarding Absinthe are entirely false. Thujone can be dangerous but only in large quantities. Absinthe from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries was thought to contain as much as 350mg of thujone per kg, recent studies have shown that it contained a maximum of 6mg per kg – a huge difference. You would have to drink an impossible amount of Absinthe for thujone to be of any danger to you – you would die of Alcohol poisoning first!
Absinthe has now been legalized in most countries and there are many types and styles available:-
– Clear Absinthe – This is known as La Bleue or Blanche Absinthe and is commonly distilled in Switzerland.
– La Verte – This is traditional green Absinthe, the Green Fairy.
– Absenta – Spanish Absinthe which tends to be sweeter than normal French or Swiss Absinthe because it is made with Spanish Alicante Anise.
– Bohemian or Czech style Absinthe – Also known as Absinth, it is a wormwood bitter, rather than an Absinthe, which does not contain other herbs such as aniseed or fennel.
All of the above Absinthes contain wormwood but some Absinthes are fake or substitutes which were developed during the ban If you want real Absinthe you need to look for an Absinthe which contains thujone or wormwood.
You can also make your own Absinthe by using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. These essences are distilled using modern carbon dioxide distillation and contain the classic Absinthe herbs – aniseed, wormwood and fennel. They are easy to use – just mix with a neutral alcohol such as vodka or Everclear to make your very own Absinthe with real wormwood.
To find out more Absinthe info and info about buying essences, replica spoons and Absinthe glasses, just visit AbsintheKit.com.