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. A wine base and different type of herbail ingredients are used in it’s distillation process.
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.
Fennel, green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, juniper, angelica, licorice, dittany, coriander, nutmeg and sweet flag are the other herbs and essential oils used in the preparation of Absinthe. It is the essential oils in Absinthe which cause the drink to louche when water is added. Due to the solubility of oils in alcohol and insolubility in water the drink appears 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 was thought to be the cause for psychedelic effects. It was thought that Absinthe contained a high quantity of thujone and was extremely toxic and dangerous. The use of Absinthe was illegal in many countries in the early 1900s.
These statements and claims regarding to Absinthe are totally unreal. Thujone can be harmful when taken in large quantities. From the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries it was believed that Absinthe contain as much as 350mg of thujone per kg which recent studies have shown to be 6mg per kg. A person can die because of Alcohol poisoning before experiencing the dangerous effects of thujone if drunk an impossible amount of Absinthe!
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.
Spanish Absinthe is more sweet 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 which were developed during the ban are not real as they do not contain thujone or wormwood.
You can also make your own Absintheby 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. Absinthe with real wormwood can be prepared by making a solution with a neutral alcohol.
The website AbsintheKit.com is available with all the informations related to Absinthe and Absinthe accessories.com.