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Absinthe or La Fee Verte
Absinthe or the Green Fairy is a drink that has mystified generations of drinkers throughout history. In the 18th century it was developed as a tonic but overtime it became the most controversial and famous drinks of all times.
Anise flavored and with an alcohol content of between 45 and 75% by volume, Absinthe is incredibly strong. Its emerald green color has given it the name "Green Fairy" or "La Fee Verte" in French. Made from herbs it is a distilled liquor. Green aniseed, wormwood, and fennel are the main herbs. The Famous Pernod Absinthe recipe produced by Henri-Louis Pernod, who was the first to commercially distill Absinthe, used herbs such as star anise, hyssop, veronica, juniper, dittany, lemon balm, and nutmeg. Calamus was used by only some manufacturers and it along with wormwood and nutmeg were thought to be psychoactive. Essential oils in the herbs that are the ingredients of Absinthe are not water soluble and hence you see the louche effect when water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. Louche or clouding of Absinthe happens due to the presence of oils which are not water soluble.
Absinthe or La Fee Verte and the Creative World
Montemartre area of Paris and the Bohemian culture inspired artists and writers were also famously inspired by Absinthe. Absinthe drinkers included greats like Pablo Picasso, Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and many others. Many writers and artists were convinced that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Paintings of Picasso and Van Gogh have even featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkes.
Prohibition campaigners were on the lookout for some excuse and they found it readily in Absinthe's association with Bohemian sect, old Montmartre and Moulin Rouge. By 1915 prohibition campaigners had linked Absinthe to marital problems, murders, family problems this resulted in the sale of Absinthe being made illegal and it was finally banned. It was not banned in the UK, Portugal, Spain and the Czech Republic all other countries joined the bandwagon and banned it.
Drinking the Gree Fairy has psychedelic effects and thujone, a chemical present in wormwood was blamed for it. Cannibis has THC and Thujone was considered very similar to it. The main ingredients of Absinthe are alcohol and ethanol, thujone is present in minute quantity. Research has proved it conclusively that the high alcohol content is more dangerous than the thujone content in Absinthe, in fact Absinthe is as safe as any other drink with high level of alcohol. Many studies have been conducted and numerous articles written on the subjet. Moderation and care are necessary with Absinthe as it has twice the strength of vodka and whisky, drink it with care and get the pleasure you are seeking.
Prohibition had little effect on the Czech Republic which had Absinthe bars that were decorated with vintage Absinthe posters and served Absinthe in large classic Absinthe glasses, people enjoyed buying and drinking absinthe here. Many countries have made absinthe legal in 2008 although the EU controlls the thujone levels in the United States only trace amounts of thujone in absinthe is allowed to be bout or sold.
You can buy Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences (visit the website AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe or the Green Fairy to bottle at home. Absinthes produced for the US market do not contain thujone, however, the real Absinthe and Absinthe essences certainly contain wormwood.
Absinthe Green Fairy a fantastic decandent can be prepared by mixing this truly delicious spirit with champagne!