Absinthe Green Fairy is 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”. There is utilization of herbs in the preparation of this distilled liquor. The three necessary herbs are wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), fennel (fennell) and green aniseed. Henri-Louis Pernod used other herbs like hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany to produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Other ingredients such as the herb calamus were used by some manufacturers and this herb along with wormwood and nutmeg were though to be psychoactive. 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. The oils are insoluble in water that’s why cause 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. People know Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde as Absinthe drinkers. Many writers and artists were convinced with the effects of Absinthe. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso even featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.
Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was just the excuse that prohibition campaigners needed. Once it was linked with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France it was easy for campaigners to get the sale of Absinthe made illegal and it was banned in France in 1915. It was restricted in most of the countries.
The Green Fairy contains the chemical thujone which was blamed for the psychedelic effects. Thujone and THC in cannabis were believed to be the same. Alcohol and ethanol are the main contents of Absinthe. Studies prove that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong drink and the alcohol content in it can be harmful not the thujone. Several 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 authorized in most countries although thujone levels are controlled in the EU and the United States only legalize Absinthe with small amounts of thujone.
Absinthe bottle or Absinthe essences can also be purchased from the Internet.A person can make his own bottled Absinthe Green Fairy 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.
Absinthe Green Fairy can also be used in cocktails – mix with champagne for a truly decadent drink!