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Absinthe Green Fairy posses a fairly interesting history. Developed as an elixir or tonic in the 18th century it is now one of the most controversial and famous drinks of all time.

With 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit and is pretty strong. The name “Green Fairy” or in French “La Fee Verte” is primarily due to its emerald green colour. It is a distilled liquor made from herbs. The three main herbs tend to be Artemisia Absinthium , fennell and green aniseed. Henri-Louis Pernod, the first man to commercially distilled Absinthe on this planet, used other herbs such as hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany to produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. Some manufacturers used ingredients like herb calamus and this herb along with wormwood and nutmeg were though to be psychoactive. It is the essential oil extract from the herbs which causes Absinthe to louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. Absinthe clouds as oils do not dissolve in water.

Arts and Absinthe Green Fairy

Absinthe is famous for inspiring many artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. Known Absinthe drinkers include Pablo Picasso, Vincent Van Gough, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Gauguin, Edgar Degas and Ernest Hemingway. A lot of writers and artists claim that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Painters like Glen Mc Grath and Martine even featured Absinthe in their paintings.

Absinthe’s association with the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was a major boost prohibition campaigners needed. Due to the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France Absinthe was made illegal and it was banned in France in 1915. Other countries also banned it but it remained legal in the the UK, Spain and Portugal.

The chemical thujone, present in wormwood, was considered for the psychedelic effects produced by drinking the Green Fairy. Thujone was thought give effects like THC in cannabis. However Absinthe contains primarily ethanol, and therefore only contains minute quantities of thujone. Research has shown that Absinthe as safe or as bad as any other strong liquor and that it is the alcohol content not the thujone that is dangerous. Articles have been written on the subject extensively. It is about twice as strong as vodka or whisky and drink it with care and in moderation, it is simply a drink which gives pleasure.

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 glasses and in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. In the year 2008, Absinthe is once again legal in many countries subject to restrictions on the amount of thujone levels.

You can buy Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences (visit the website AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. Real Absinthe and Absinthe essences contain the vital ingredient wormwood but some new Absinthes, produced for the US market, do not contain thujone.

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

The Green Fairy Absinthe Absinthe.

Green Fairy Absinthe is a beverage that has some facinating history to it. Initially developed as a tonic in the 18th century it is the most famous and controversial drink of all times.

Between 45 and 75% Alcohol present in Absinthe, the anise flavored spirit is considered extremely strong. It is emerald green in color, hence the name “Green Fairy” or in French “La Fee Verte”. It is made from herbs and is a distilled liquor. Wormwood, fennel and green aniseed are the herbs that matter the most. The very famous Pernod Absinthe recipe was produced using herbs like hyssop, star anise, juniper, veronica, lemon balm, nutmeg, and dittany Henri-Louis Pernod was also the first person to commercially distill Absinthe. Wormwood, nutmeg and herbs like calamus, used by some manufacturers, were thought to be psychoactive. It is the essential oil extract from the herbs which causes Absinthe to louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. Absinthe clouds or louches due to the presence on water insoluble oils.

The Green Fairy Absinthe

Green Fairy or La Fee Verte Absinthe is equally popular and the world of Painters and Artists

Absinthe is famous for inspiring many artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. Several greats like Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde loved their Absinthe. Writers and Artists were convinced that their genius and inspiration came from Absinthe. Paintings of Picasso and Van Gogh have even featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkes.

Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, Bohemian sect and Moulin Rouge was the excuse that prohibition campaigners were looking for. 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. It was legal in countries like the UK, Spain, Portugal, and the Czech whereas all other countries banned it.

Psychedelic effects after drinking the Green Fairy were blamed on thujone, a chemical present in wormwood. Cannibis has THC and Thujone was considered very similar to it. The main ingredients of Absinthe are alcohol and ethanol, thujone is present in minute quantity. Researchers point out the fact that the real danger in Absinthe is the alcohol content and not thujone and it is as safe as any high alcohol liquor. Many studies and articles have been written on the subject. Absinthe is a very strong drink, in fact it is two times stronger than whisky and vodka and hence care and moderation are necessary to derive pleasure.

Absinthe served in large glasses and surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters was patronised by many people in the Czech Republic during the time of prohibition. Absinthe with controlled levels of thujone is permitted by the EU and the United States allows only traces of thujone present in the absinthe sold or purchased there, however, absinthe is today legal in many countries.

To buy absinthe or absinthe essence online please visit AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe the Green Fairy or La Fee Verte 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.

Absinthe the Green Fairy cocktails can use this spirit to prepare a fantastic drink – just mix this delicious spirit with champagne!