Absinthe Green Fairy is an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. Although it was developed as an elixir in the 18th century it is one of the most controversial and well known drinks of everytime.
Absinthe is incredibly strong between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. As it is emerald green in color so it is named as “Green Fairy”. It is a distilled liquor made from herbs. Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell) are the main herbs. For producing famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe Henri-Louis Pernod used herbs like hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany. Other ingredients like the herb calamus were used by few manufacturers and this herb along with wormwood and nutmeg were thought to be psychoactive. Because of the essential oil extract Absinthe louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. The oils are not water soluble and so cause the Absinthe to cloud or louche.
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. A lot of writers and artists were impressed with Absinthe believing that it gave them inspiration and their genius. Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers was featured by some painters in their paintings.
Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was just the excuse that prohibition campaigners needed. The link with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France were responsible for the restriction of Absinthe in France. Many countries banned it but it remained legal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.
The Green Fairy contains the chemical thujone which was blamed for the psychedelic effects. People thought that there were similariyies between thujone and THC in cannabis. Since Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol therefore it contains small amount of thujone. There is no harmful effects of Absinthe and it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. Many studies and articles have been written on the subject. One should remember it’s strongness and drink it with care and in balance amount.
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. Now, in 2008, Absinthe is legal in many countries although thujone levels are controlled in the EU and the United States only allows Absinthe with trace amounts of thujone to be bought and sold.
A person can visit websites to buy Absinthe or order Absinthe essences.One can visit AbsintheKit.com to make his own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. A few new Absinthes prepared for the US market are without thujone content.
Absinthe Green Fairy is a delicious spirit which can be used in cocktails – mix with champagne for a truly dissolute drink!