Absinthe the beautiful green fairy
Written by Post on November 8th, 2009 in Food & Drink.
Absinthe Green Fairy or La Fee Verte
The Green Fairy Absinthe is a drink with great history behind it. In the 18th century it was developed as a tonic but overtime it became the most controversial and famous drinks of all times.
A strong spirit with ansie flavor, Absinthe has between 45 and 75% alcohol by volume. The French call it “La Fee Verte” and the English call it “Green Fairy” due to its emerald green color. Distilled and made from herbs it is a liquor. Wormwood, fennel and green aniseed are the herbs that matter the most. Hwnri-Louis Pernod was the first person to commercially distill Absinthe. he used herbs such as hyssop, nutmeg, lemon balm,veronica, juniper, dittany and star ansie to produce the original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Calamus was used by only some manufacturers and it along with wormwood and nutmeg were thought to be psychoactive. The herbs are responsible for the louche effect as they release water insoluble essential oils when water is poured over the sugar cube on the Absinthe spoon. The oils in Absinthe are not soluble and hence it louches or clouds.
Green Fairy or La Fee Verte Absinthe is equally popular and the world of Painters and Artists
Bohemian culture and Montmartre area in Paris owe their popularity to Absinthe which inspired great artists and writers. Absinthe drinkers included greats like Pablo Picasso, Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Ernest Hemingway and many others. Artists and writers were convinced that their genius and inspiration was given by Absinthe. So popular was Absinthe that famous painters like Van Gogh and Picasso featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.
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. Almost all countries banned it with the exception of the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain and the UK where it enjoyed legal status.
Drinking the Green Fairy causes psychedelic effects and thujone which is present in wormwood was blamed for it. Thujone was considered to be similar to THC present in cannabis. Alcohol and ethanol are the main ingredients of Absinthe and thujone if any is present in very minute quantities. Research has conclusively shown that Absinthe is as safe as any other drink with high alcohol content and that thujone is not dangerous to the human body. Countless articles and studies have been written on the subject. To get real pleasure drink it in moderation as it is twice as strong as vodka and whisky.
In the Czech Republic Absinthe bars, decorated with Absinthe posters, served vintage style absinthe in large classic glasses and people thoroughly loved and patronised it during the prohibition. 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.
Visit AbsintheKit and order a bottle of absinthe or absinthe essence online.com) to make your own Green Fairy or La Fee Verte Absinthe is equally popular to bottle at home. Genuine Absinthe essences and Absinthes are made from wormwood but new Absinthes produced for the US markets do not have thujone in them.
Two names describe Absinthe “Green Fairy” or “La Fee Verte” champagne can be mixed with this delicious spirit to prepare a woderful decandent drink! Just for your Knowledge Asinthe kit is the best way to get economical Absinthe.
