Absinthe spoons,Absinthe glasses, fountains, drippers and brouillers are all collectively known as Absinthiana and are the accoutrements used in the preparation of Absinthe. A person can purchase these antiques and collectibles at quite substantial amount of money.

If original Absinthiana is unaffordable then one can purchase replicas from companies like AbsintheKit.com.To prepare the perfect Absinthe in style one can visit AbsintheKit.com.

Types of Absinthe Spoons

Absinthe spoons, cuilleres, were introduced in the 1880s to make Absinthe preparation easier. Previously perforated cups over Absinthe glasses had been used. These spoons were pierced or slotted for dripping of sugar and water into the absinthe.

Absinthe spoons, or cuilleres, come in many different shapes and sizes and are also made out of many different kinds of metal including silver, nickel and chrome. There are over 375 varieties of Absinthe spoon according to Marie-Claude Delahaye.
Among all the types of spoon the French Pelle is the most common type includes “les feuilles d’Absinthe” which have got Absinthe foliage designs on them. In 1889 the opening of the Eiffel Tower was commemorated by the famous spoon having the design of the Eiffel Tower.
The second group of Absinthe spoons is known as “les Grilles” or “Les Grillagees”. A person can get the “Les cuilleres” which contains designs with a long handle and a cradle to hold the cube of sugar.

“Les Cuilleres de Poilus” is one of the most famous Absinthe spoons. A Poilu was a French soldier from the Great War and these Cuillere spoons were fashioned by soldiers at war using materials which were close at hand – shell casings, aluminum, tin and brass. These spoons were only made at the start of the war because Absinthe was banned in France in 1915. Soldiers prepared these spoons to fit their own drinking cups. These beautiful and unique spoons are now highly collectible antiques.

Absinthe was banned because of the alleged psychedelic and psychoactive effects of thujone, the chemical found in the herb wormwood which is a major ingredient in Absinthe. Absinthe was legalized in most countries in the 1990s after it was noted that it was no more harmful than any other strong liquor and contained only minute amounts of thujone.

The Absinthe Ritual

There is a ritual to be followed by lovers of the Green Fairy (Absinthe). The preparation of the perfect Absinthe needs these things
- Buy an Absinthe spoon
- An Absinthe Glass
- Absinthe
- Take iced water
According to some people an Absinthe fountain, brouiller or carafe can be used for the water.
One can make Absinthe in the following manner :-
- The amount of Absinthe taken in the glass should be 25-50ml.
- After resting Absinthe spoon on the glass place a cube of sugar on it.
- A person should slowly drop the iced water over the sugar cube. The louche is visible from the bottom of the glass.
Louching or clouding is the result of insolubility of the essential oils in water. The appearance of finished drink should be milky or cloudy.

The ratio of water and Absinthe should be either 3:1 or 5:1 depending on taste.

Using Absinthe spoons and other Absinthiana will help you to fully enjoy the Absinthe ritual.