Absinthe Green Fairy is an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. It was prepared as a tonic in the 18th century and became one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time.
Between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume Absinthe is incredibly strong. The “Green Fairy” is so called because it is emerald green in color. Herbs are used in the making of this distilled liquor. Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell) are the main herbs. For producing famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe Henri-Louis Pernod used herbs like hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany. Some manufacturers used the herb calamus along with wormwood and nutmeg which were assumed to be psychoactive. Absinthe louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon due to the essential oil extract from the herbs. As the oils cannot mix with water so they cause the Absinthe to cloud.
Absinthe Green Fairy and the Art World
Absinthe is famous for inspiring many artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. A few well known Absinthe drinkers are Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. A lot of writers and artists were impressed with Absinthe believing that it gave them inspiration and their genius. Van Gogh and Picasso are among the painters who featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.
Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was simply the explanation that prohibition campaigners required. Absinthe was linked with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France so the campaigners raised their hands against the legalization of Absinthe in France. It was legal in only the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.
People believed that the chemical thujone was responsible for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. People thought thujone to be same as the THC in cannabis. Since Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol therefore it contains small amount of thujone. According to the research Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and the alcohol content in it can harm anyone not the thujone. A number of studies and articles have been written on the subject. One should remember it’s strongness and drink it with care and in balance amount.
During the time of prohibition many people enjoyed buying and drinking vintage style Absinthe in Absinthe bars in the Czech Republic, served in the classic Absinthe large glassesand in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. Absinthe is legal in various nations with thujone levels controlled by the EU and the United States only allows marketing of Absinthe with trace quantity of thujone.
You can buy Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences (visit the website AbsintheKit.One can visit AbsintheKit.com to make his own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. Thujone is not used in a few new Absinthes that are prepared for the US market.
Absinthe Green Fairy is a delicious spirit which can be used in cocktails – mix with champagne for a truly dissolute drink!