Absinthe Green Fairy is an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. It was prepared as a tonic in the 18th century and became one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time.

The strongness of Absinthe lies between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. The name “Green Fairy” was kept because of it’s emerald green color. Herbs are used in the making of this distilled liquor. The common herbs tend to be wormwood, green aniseed and fennel. For producing famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe Henri-Louis Pernod used herbs like hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany. A few producers also used the herb calamus which was believed to be psychoactive along with wormwood and nutmeg. When the chilled water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon the essential oil extract from the herbs causes Absinthe to louche. Absinthe is louche due to the insolubility of oils in water.

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. Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde are popular Absinthe drinkers. Many writers and artists were convinced that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. A few paintings are also based on Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers.

Old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect were needed by the prohibition campaigners for an excuse. Absinthe was banned in France in 1915 because it was linked with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France. Many countries banned it but it remained legal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.

The chemical thujone, present in wormwood was thought to be the reason behind the psychedelic effects. People thought thujone to be same as the THC in cannabis. Since Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol therefore it contains small amount of thujone. 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. A number of 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.The website can help a person in preparing his own bottled Absinthe Green Fairy at home. A few new Absinthes prepared for the US market are without thujone content.

Absinthe Green Fairy is a delicious spirit and can be used in cocktails too – mix with champagne for a truly decadent drink!