Absinthe Green Fairy is an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. Being developed as an elixir or tonic in the 18th century it is now among the most controversial and popular drinks of All Time.
Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is incredibly strong, between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. Because of it’s emerald green color it is known as “Green Fairy” or as “La Fee Verte” in French. Herbs are used to prepare this distilled liquor. There is requirement of the herbs like wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell). Henri-Louis Pernod was the first to commercially distilled Absinthe used other herbs to produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. The herb calamus was thought to be psychoactive along with wormwood and nutmeg. It is the essential oil extract from the herbs which causes Absinthe to louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. 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. Famous Absinthe drinkers include 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. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso focused Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.
Old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect were needed by the prohibition campaigners for an excuse. France banned Absinthe in 1915 because of it’s relation with the murder of a family and increasing alcohol addiction in this nation. Many countries banned it but it remained legal in 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. Thujone and THC in cannabis were believed to be the same. However Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol, and therefore only contains 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. A number of studies and articles have been written on the subject. As it is twice strong than a vodka or a whisky so one must be careful about the amount while drinking it.
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 glasses and in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. Today Absinthe is legal in many countries with controlled thujone levels and the United States only allows Absinthe with decent quantity of thujone.
Internet is the best way of getting Absinthe by the bottle or for ordering Absinthe essences.The website can help a person in preparing his own bottled Absinthe Green Fairy at home. Some new Absinthes which are made for the US market do not contain thujone.
Absinthe Green Fairy is a delicious spirit which can be used in cocktails – mix with champagne for a truly dissolute drink!
