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. The “Green Fairy” is so called because it is emerald green in color. There is utilization of herbs in the preparation of this distilled liquor. The three important herbs for it is wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell). Henri-Louis Pernod was the first to commercially distilled Absinthe used other herbs to produce his famous original Pernod Absinthe recipe. 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. 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. A few well known Absinthe drinkers are Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. Many writers and artists were convinced that Absinthe gave them inspiration and gave them their genius. Painters like Van Gogh and Picasso even featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers in their paintings.

Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was just the excuse that prohibition campaigners needed. Absinthe was linked with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France so the campaigners raised their hands against the legalization of Absinthe in France. It was restricted in most of the countries.

The psychedelic effects of intaking the Green Fairy was due to the chemical thujone present in wormwood. 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. Research has shown that the alcohol content in Absinthe is dangerous and not the thujone. Many studies and articles have been written on the subject. It should be drunk in appropriate quantity because it is approximately twice as strong as vodka or whisky.

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. Absinthe is legal now in lots of countries however thujone levels are controlled in the EU and the United States only authorize marketing of Absinthe having appropriate amounts of thujone.

The website AbsintheKit.com can help a person in getting Absinthe online by the bottle or in placing an order for 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.

One can also use Absinthe Green Fairy in cocktails – mix with champagne for a truly decadent drink!