The Absinthe fairy was used on Absinthe label and posters. The film Moulin Rouge was focused on the french Bohemian culture of Montmartre in Paris where the Green Fairy Absinthe was the favorite drink of artists and writers.
Absinthe Fairy Followers
Famous devotees of La Fee Verte, the Green Fairy, were Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway who created his own Absinthe cocktail “Death in the Afternoon” – a mix of Absinthe and champagne. Writers and artists said that they gained inspiration due to Absinthe and many pieces of art focus Absinthe or Absinthe drinkers. The Belle Epoque period of history is known as the hey day for Absinthe.
The herbs and essential oils are used in the preparation of Absinthe. The basic ingredient of it is the herb wormwood, an extract from the plant wormwood or artemisia absinthium. Wormwood gives Absinthe its characteristic bitter taste whereas herbs such as aniseed, anise and fennel give the spirit it’s anise flavor.
Thujone, a chemical found in wormwood oil, was thought to be psychoactive and to give psychedelic effects, cause hallucinations and eventually insanity. Due to the loose morals of the drinkers in Montmartre prohibition campaigners ammunition banned Absinthe in France. There was restriction in buying or selling of Absinthe. Many other countries also banned it. Spain, where Absinthe was called Absenta, Portugal, the UK and the Czech Republic never restricted the Green Fairy.
Absinthe Fairy and Prohibition
During the prohibition period, distilleries, such as the Pernod Fils distillery, started producing Absinthe substitutes such as Pernod Pastis to market to the people who were missing the anise flavor of Absinthe. Ricard was among the Absinthe substitutes.
As bootleg absinthe was still distilled and sold in several nations which showed that the distilling of Absinthe is existing there.
During 1900 Absinthe was made legal in most of the countries except in Switzerland which was home of Absinthe. You can now buy Absinthe and Absinthe essence kits online along with Absinthiana such as glasses, spoons and fountains. Drinking Absinthe out of a special antique or replica glass with a proper spoon is added attraction to the Absinthe preparation ritual.
Studies showed that the thujone content in Absinthe was safe so it was legalized in many countries. Although Absinthe is much higher in alcohol than other spirits but it was never designed to drink neat. To enjoy La Louche a person should mix it with iced water.
You can order real wormwood Absinthe from many websites and essences to make your own bottled Absinthe are available from AbsintheKit.com.