Absinthe Green Fairyis an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. In the 18th century it was developed as an elixir and today it is among the most controversial and popular drinks of all time.
Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is absurdly strong between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. It is emerald green in color, hence the name “Green Fairy” or in French “La Fee Verte”. It is a distilled liquor prepared from herbs. The three main herbs tend to be wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell). Henri-Louis Pernod produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe by utilizing herbs like hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany. The herbs like calamus were used by some manufacturers which was thought to be psychoactive. As soon as the iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon it causes Absinthe to louche. The oils are not water soluble and so cause the Absinthe to cloud or louche.
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. Many writers and artists were benefited with the effects of Absinthe. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso focused Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.
The prohibition campaigners required Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect. 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 never illegal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.
The chemical thujone, present in wormwood, was blamed for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. There were no difference between thujone and THC in cannabis according to the people. The main contents of Absinthe are alcohol, ethanol and minute quantities of thujone. Research has shown that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and that it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. Numerous studies and articles have been written on the subject. It can be a drink which gives pleasure if consumed in moderation.
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.
One can purchase Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences.An individual can make his own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home by going through the website. Real Absinthe and Absinthe essences contain the vital ingredient wormwood but some new Absinthes, produced for the US market, do not contain thujone.
One can also use Absinthe Green Fairy in cocktails – mix with champagne for a truly decadent drink!
