Since there has been an Absinthe revival in many countries over the past few years, many people are seeking Absinthe info.
Absinthe is known as “La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” because of its characteristic green color. Different from the alcoholic beverages beer and cider it is distilled generally with a wine base and a variety of herbail ingredients.
Absinthe got it’s name and it’s distinctive bitter taste from the wormwood, artemisia absinthium. Some “fake” Absinthes do not contain wormwood because thujone, from wormwood, was strictly regulated in countries like the USA and proper wormwood Absinthe was banned.
Fennel, green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, juniper, angelica, licorice, dittany, coriander, nutmeg and sweet flag are the different types of herbs and essential oils used in Absinthe production. Due to the essential oils Absinthe louches when coming in contact with water. The oils are soluble in alcohol but not in water and so cause the drink to go cloudy.
Absinthe Info about the Ban
The prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe was harmful and that drinking Absinthe led to “Absinthism” which was characterized by convulsions, fits, madness, brain damage and ultimately death. Thujone, the chemical found in wormwood, was claimed to cause psychedelic effects and to be dangerous. It was believed that Absinthe had a large amount of thujone content because of which it was extremely toxic and dangerous. In the beginning of 1900s lots of nations banned Absinthe.
The facts about Absinthe is entirely different from the statements given about it. Thujone can be dangerous when taken in large amounts. There is a great difference between the thought of 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries and recent studies about the thujone content in Absinthe. One has to drink sufficient amount of Absinthe for thujone to be of any danger!
Absinthe has now been legalized in most countries and there are many types and styles available:-
– Clear Absinthe – This is known as La Bleue or Blanche Absinthe and is commonly distilled in Switzerland.
– La Verte – This is traditional green Absinthe, the Green Fairy.
Absenta is a Spanish Absinthe which tends to be sweeter than normal French or Swiss Absinthe.
– Bohemian or Czech style Absinthe is a wormwood bitter than an Absinthe which lacks other herbs such as aniseed or fennel.
Thujone or wormwood is the important content of real Absinthe.
You can also make your own Absintheby using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. Modern carbon dioxide distillation is used to distill these essences. Absinthe with real wormwood can be prepared by making a solution with a neutral alcohol.
One can visit AbsintheKit.com to get more Absinthe info and info about Absinthe kit.com.