Absinthe is not drunk like your everyday spirits such as whiskey or rum. Absinthe has a lot of history and culture associated with it and was always prepared and drunk following a traditional ritual. There are two ways that can answer your question how to prepare absinthe?. First is the traditional French ritual and the second is the more modern Czech ritual. Both rituals are interesting and fun and perhaps the reason why absinthe occupies a place of pride amongst all alcoholic beverages.
Absinthe is made from a variety of herbs such as wormwood, anise, fennel, veronica root, angelica, hyssop and several other herbs. The main herbs or the “holy trinity” as they are called are wormwood, anise, and fennel. The other herbs are used to color and add specific flavors to absinthe. All genuine absinthes are bitter due to the presence of absinthin a substance that is present in wormwood. To counter this bitter taste and make the drink more palatable all absinthes are usually served with sugar. Sugar also enhances the different herbal flavors in absinthe.
Absinthe rituals are majestic and involve special absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses, absinthe fountains, ice cold water, and sugar cubes. The traditional absinthe ritual is immortalized in several classic movies, plays and novels. The ritual has also been a subject of many paintings by great masters of the nineteenth century.
In the traditional French ritual, preferred by most connoisseurs, a dose or measure of absinthe is poured in a special absinthe glass and a perforated absinthe spoon is placed on the rim of the glass. A sugar cube is placed on the spoon and ice cold water is slowly dripped over the sugar cube. The water is dripped from an absinthe fountain. As the sugar cube melts it falls through the perforations in the spoon into the glass, causing the louche effect. The absinthe in the glass turns from emerald green to opaque opalescent white as essential oils from the various herbs in absinthe are precipitated. Once the sugar cube is fully dissolved some water is added and the drink is then served. Absinthe is best enjoyed if sipped slowly over a period of time. When sipped slowly you can feel the unique effects of absinthe kick in and you experience a clear headed inebriation that you may never experience with other drinks. Usually three parts of ice cold water are added to one part of absinthe. The true connoisseurs add water very carefully usually drop by drop as the green absinthe turns milky. This ritual adds to the mystique and fascination of absinthe, the drink. No other drink in the world is prepared using such a fine ritual. This traditional ritual was followed by both commoners and the aristocrats. Absinthe is never drunk neat and ice cubes never added to the glass, only ice cold water is added from an absinthe fountain.
With the return of absinthe people are taking great deal of interest in absinthe rituals and absinthe accessories. It is not uncommon for true absintheurs to pay hundreds of dollars to buy nineteenth century vintage absinthes, hand crafted absinthe spoons, fine absinthe glasses and other absinthe accessories.
Fortunately you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars to buy absinthe and absinthe accessories. Websites like absinthekit.com offer great deals at the most competitive prices on absinthe kits, absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories. All the absinthe accessories such as spoons, absinthe labels, and glasses are made using traditional designs and look just like the original ones. Absinthekit.com also specializes in genuine absinthe essence and absinthe kits. The essence is made using the traditional absinthe recipes and high quality herbs.
For more information and tips on the preparation of this marvelous drink visit absinthekit.com.