Absinthe Green Fairy is an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. In the 18th century it was developed as an elixir and today it is among the most controversial and popular drinks of all time.

Between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume Absinthe is incredibly strong. The name “Green Fairy” was kept because of it’s emerald green color. It is a distilled liquor prepared from herbs. Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell) are the main herbs. 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. Absinthe louche when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon due to the essential oil extract from the herbs. As the oils cannot mix with water so they cause the Absinthe to cloud.

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. A lot of writers and artists were impressed with Absinthe believing that it gave them inspiration and their genius. A few paintings are also based on Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers.

Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was only the relieve required by prohibition campaigners. France banned Absinthe in 1915 because of it’s relation with the murder of a family and increasing alcohol addiction in this nation. It was never illegal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.

The chemical thujone, present in wormwood, was blamed for the psychedelic effects of drinking the Green Fairy. People thought that there were similariyies between thujone and THC in cannabis. The main contents of Absinthe are alcohol, ethanol and minute quantities of thujone. According to the research Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and the alcohol content in it can harm anyone not the thujone. A number of studies and articles have been written on the subject. If you remember that 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 glassesand in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. Absinthe is authorized in most countries although thujone levels are controlled in the EU and the United States only legalize Absinthe with small amounts of thujone.

You can buy Absinthe online by the bottle or order Absinthe essences (visit the website AbsintheKit.An individual can make his own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home by going through the website. Some new Absinthes which are made for the US market do not contain thujone.

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