Absinthe wormwood is normally Artemisia Absinthium or Grand Wormwood which is actually a variety of wormwood which does not contain a vast amount of the chemical thujone. The drinks with two types of wormwood may contain more thujone. Thujone amounts can differ between brands significantly, some Absinthes only have negligible amounts of thujone, whereas others have up to 35mg/kg. Only Absinthe which has negligible amounts of thujone is legal for sale in the USA because thujone is an illegal food additive there.
Absinthe Wormwood has a controversy?
Common Wormwood, Artemisia Absinthium has been used in medicine from Ancient times. It has been used before :-
– Poisoning caused by toadstools and hemlock can be counterchecked.
– Ways of using it as a tonic.
– Helps in lowering down a fever.
– It plays the role of a digestive stimulant.
– Parasitic intestinal worms can be treated.
The herb Wormwood gave Absinthe it’s bitterness, green color and also it’s name. The essential herbal oils in Absinthe are also responsible for the famous “louche” effect, the cloudy that happens when water is added to the drink.
During 1900s Absinthe was illegalized in many countries because of having thujone content in it. Absinthe drinking was linked to different crimes and problems and thujone was thought to be a psychoactive and psychedelic element. Absinthe was claimed to be responsible for the murder of a french family though the killer was actually an alcoholic who consumed plenty of other alcohols after the Absinthe!
Before it’s unauthorization numerous writers and artists enjoyed this drink. Absinthe was never restricted in the UK, Spain, Portugal or the Czech Republic though banned in many European countries.
Absinthe Wormwood Revival
There was never any real evidence linking Absinthe drinking to hallucinations or insanity and it is now known that Absinthe is no worse than any other highly alcoholic drink. The alcoholic content in Absinthe is twice than that in whisky and vodka so care should be taken while consuming it but Absinthe wormwood is not thought to be harmful. The combination of the sedative effects of some of the herbs (and the alcohol content)and the stimulating effects of the Wormwood and other herbs can make a person feel a funny lucid or clear headed type of drunkenness when consuming heavy dose of Absinthe.
There has been a renewed interest, a revival, in Absinthe drinking after it’s legalization in most countries. There are many different types and brands of Absinthe available to buy and buyers can even order Absinthe essence, to make their own Absinthe, online from companies like AbsintheKit.com.
The European Union and the United States allow only trace amounts of thujone which is an important content of Absinthe. It is necessary to have Absinthe that contain real wormwood and herbs.