The legalization of a few brands of Absinthe in 2007 in the United States makes the people to experience an Absinthe revival. Yet, some people don’t really know how to use Absinthe correctly or even what Absinthe is.
What is Absinthe
Absinthe is not a hallucinogen or a drug. It is a strong alcoholic beverage with an alcohol by volume of up to 75% and an anise flavor.
Legend has it that Absinthe was created by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century as an elixir for his patients. Absinthe was distilled and sold by Henri-Louis Pernod commercially by the turn of the 19th century. Pernod used a wine alcohol base distilled with various types of natural herbs comprising wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), fennel, aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, angelica, juniper, dittany, nutmeg and melissa.
Absinthe, or La Fee Verte (Green Fairy)as it became known in France, became such a popular drink that it even became more popular than wine in France. As the Absinthe bars became famous the “Ritual” or traditional method of using and preparing Absinthe was born.
France banned Absinthe when it was claimed that Absinthe contained psychoactive chemicals and cause hallucinations, convulsions, insanity and death. It is now known that these claims were false. Absinthe cannot and does not cause such effects. Absinthe was legalized in many countries in the 1990s.
How to Use Absinthe the Traditional Way
To prepare Absinthe in the traditional way is to use the “Ritual”.
Following things are needed :-
– A large glass or Absinthe glass of appropriate size.
– Absinthe
– An Absinthe spoon– replica glasses and spoons can be purchased online at AbsintheKit.One can make his own Absinthe with top-quality Absinthe essences. Get top-quality Absinthe essences to make your own Absinthe.
– Get a sugar cube.
– Take a carafe of iced water.
One has to pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass.
Rest the spoon on the rim of the glass and put the sugar cube on the spoon.
Slowly drip, rather than pour, the iced water over the sugar to dissolve it.
One can see the Absinthe louche as the water mixes into the Absinthe. As the essential oils in the Absinthe do not mix in water so the mixture gets cloudy.
A person can enjoy the taste of the Green Fairy after stirring his Absinthe.
However Absinthe will not give hallucinations but it is a strong drink and can be consumed easily. Either naturally sedative in nature or stimulants herbs are used to prepare Absinthe. One can feel a very different drunkenness with this blend of herbs. Some describe it as a “clear headed” drunkenness.
The Czech or Bohemian Method
With this method, once you have poured the shot of Absinthe into the glass you dip the sugar cube into the alcohol and then set it alight on the spoon with a match. A person can add the iced water after the sugar has caramelized and melted from the spoon into the Absinthe.
One can have fun while drinking Absinthe with the Bohemian method. It can be risky as the whole glass of Absinthe can catch fire, a bit of a waste of Absinthe! A person should be attentive.
One can make his own or search online for cocktail recipes on how to use Absinthe besides using the Ritual method for Absinthe.