Since the legalization of Absinthe in many countries in the late 1980s and 90s, and 2007 in the USA for certain brands, many people have been wanting to know how to serve Absinthe to enjoy the perfect Green Fairy of history, the drink enjoyed by Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Oscar Wilde.

Firstly, you need to make sure that you have got a real Absinthe. Fake Absinthes and substitutes won’t taste right and won’t louche properly. Real Absinthe contains essential oils from herbs like wormwood, aniseed, fennel, hyssop and lemon balm. These oils are soluble in Absinthe alcohol but when the Absinthe is prepared in the correct way, with cold water, the Absinthe louches (becomes cloudy or milky) because the oils are not water soluble.

Make sure that the Absinthe you buy is called “Absinthe”, Absenta (from Spain) or “Absynthe” and that it contains real wormwood. If you find it difficult to find real wormwood Absinthe, you can make your own Absinthe using the special Absinthe essences sold by AbsintheKit.com. These essences are the same ones that the company sell to the Absinthe Industry and are specially made using top-quality herbs and carbon dioxide distillation. Simply mix some essence with vodka or Everclear to make your very own Absinthe.

AbsintheKit sell 20ml bottles of essence which make one 750ml bottle of Absinthe and they also sell kits which include enough essence to make 14 bottles of Absinthe, bottle labels and a handy measure. See their website for further details and a guide on how to make Absinthe using their essences.

How to Serve Absinthe

The correct culinary term for the cultural preparation of Absinthe is “The Ritual”. To be properly “cultured” you will require:-
– An Absinthe glass – antique or replica.
– An Absinthe slotted spoon (cuillere).
– Absinthe.
– Iced Water.

Pour a shot of Absinthe (25-50ml) of Absinthe into the glass. Rest the Absinthe spoon on the top of the glass and rest a cube of sugar on it. Using either an Absinthe fountain or a carafe with a steady hand, slowly drip or pour the water over the sugar. As the water mixes into the Absinthe the drink will louche. This effect can be quite dramatic depending on the Absinthe and the concentration of essential oils. The ratio of water to Absinthe liquor should be between 3:1 and 5:1. Stir the drink once all the water has dripped in and then enjoy your Absinthe.

Remember to drink Absinthe in moderation, it is a very strong spirit. Many people comment on the very different type of drunkenness they experience when drinking Absinthe. It has been described as a “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness. This could be caused by the blend of herbs used in Absinthe production – some have a sedative effect while others act as stimulants, very strange!

Enjoy learning how to serve Absinthe using the ritual.

You may have bought yourself a bottle of Absinthe, the Green Fairy, or made your very own Absinthe by using top-quality Absinthe essences such as those available from AbsintheKit.com. Now you just need to learn how to prepare Absinthe. Follow the following instructions and tips to make the perfect Absinthe drink.

There are two main methods for preparing Absinthe. The Ritual or La Louche is the traditional method used in France and Switzerland in bars and homes before the Absinthe ban of the 1900s. The Czech or Bohemian method is a more modern method of preparing absinthe and is scorned by many Absinthe drinkers who say it was just an advertising stunt and was never used in history.

How to Prepare Absinthe using “The Ritual”

To perform “The Ritual” you will need:-
– An Absinthe glass or large glass – replica Absinthe glasses and spoons are available from AbsintheKit.com
– An Absinthe spoon – which is a slotted or perforated spoon.
– Absinthe
– A cube of sugar
– An Absinthe fountain or jug of iced water.

Pour 25-50ml of Absinthe into the glass and rest the spoon over the rim of the glass.
Slowly drip the water over the sugar cube using a steady hand or by turning on the tap of the fountain.
The sugar will slowly dissolve and drip through the slots of the spoon.
Watch the Absinthe louche as the water mixes into the Absinthe.
Stir and enjoy your Green Fairy drink, the drink enjoyed by the likes of Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde and Pablo Picasso.

How to Prepare Absinthe using the Czech or Bohemian Method

For this method you will need:-
– An Absinthe glass or large glass
– An Absinthe spoon
– Absinthe
– A cube of sugar
– A lighter or match

Place the sugar cube on the Absinthe spoon and rest on the rim of the glass.
Pour 25-50ml of Absinthe into the glass, pouring a bit over the sugar to soak the sugar.
Using the match or lighter, carefully set fire to the sugar cube.
Allow the sugar to caramelize, melt and drip into the Absinthe.
Dilute the Absinthe with the iced water to your required dilution.
Enjoy watching the Absinthe louche and then sit back and enjoy.

Be very careful with the Bohemian Method – you do not want to set the Absinthe alight and ruin the flavor or set your house on fire.

For both methods, you will want to use a quality Absinthe which contains real wormwood and real essential oils so that you can enjoy the “louche” effect. You may want to use Czech Absinthe for the Bohemian Method as it is said to come from the Czech Republic.

If you are unable to buy quality Absinthes in your shops then you can search online or make your own using real wormwood Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. These essences are used by the Absinthe industry so you know that they are top quality. You simply mix the essence with vodka or Everclear to make Absinthe. Go to AbsintheKit.com to find out how to prepare Absinthe using essences.

Many people do not know how to pour Absinthe properly and no, it’s not quite as simple as removing the lid, pouring it into a glass and drinking it! Absinthe should be served diluted with iced water and sweetened slightly with sugar. This method is called “The Ritual” or “La Louche” and is the way that Absinthe was prepared in its heyday in the 19th century and early 20th century.

The Ritual isn’t so much a recipe as a method to follow. Here are instructions on how to pour the perfect Green Fairy every time:-

You will need:-

– Absinthe – Use a quality Absinthe which contains wormwood. There are many fake Absinthes around without any thujone and therefore no wormwood.

– An Absinthe glass – This makes measuring the Absinthe really easy because you fill the bulge at the bottom or go up to the mark, depending on what style glass you have.

– A slotted Absinthe spoon (cuillere)

– Iced water

– A cube of white sugar

To make your Absinthe drink you need to pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass and rest the spoon on the rim of the glass.
Place the cube of sugar on the spoon and slowly drip the water over the sugar to make it dissolve into the Absinthe. Top up the Absinthe to taste, usually a ratio of between 3:1 and 5:1 water to Absinthe.

If you use a steady hand and drip the water slowly, you will be able to watch the Absinthe louche as it turns from a transparent bright green to an opalescent, pale, milky green. This is fascinating to watch.

Some Absinthe drinkers buy a special Absinthe fountain which you fill with water and ice cubes and then turn a tap to control the dripping of the water into the Absinthe – great if you are heavy handed. A fountain also allows you to make two drinks at the same time because many fountains have two taps.

Replicas of antique Absinthe spoons and glasses can be ordered online from AbsintheKit.com. The company also sell Absinthe essences on their webshop. You mix an essence with vodka or everclear to make your very own real wormwood Absinthe.

The Czech or Bohemian method differs slightly from the Ritual and is not a traditional method of preparing Absinthe. To make Absinthe this way you need to:-
– Pour a shot of Absinthe into a glass and then dip the cube of sugar into the alcohol.
– Place the cube of sugar onto the Absinthe spoon.
– Using a match or lighter, set the sugar alight.
– Watch the sugar caramelize and melt through the slots of the spoon and into the Absinthe.
– Carefully pour iced water into the Absinthe to dilute.
– Stir and enjoy.

Absinthe can also be mixed with other alcohol in cocktails. Look online for Absinthe cocktail recipes. Ernest Hemingway drank “Death in the Afternoon” – Absinthe mixed with champagne!

There you are, how to pour Absinthe using the Ritual and the more modern Bohemian method. Try them out and have fun with Absinthe.

You may have heard of the mythical, mysterious Green Fairy, the drink known as Absinthe, and now you want to know where you can get hold of this liquor – how to order Absinthe. You may be fortunate enough to be able to find a good quality Absinthe at your local liquor shop or your liquor shop might order a bottle in for you. However, many shops, especially in the United States, are stocked with fake or substitute Absinthe and not genuine wormwood Absinthe. You may be best to order Absinthe online.

How to Order Absinthe online

Before you order Absinthe you need to know how to choose a genuine, quality Absinthe. Here are some buying tips:-

– Educate yourself about Absinthe. There are many websites, such as lafeeverte.net, with articles about Absinthe, details about different brands and reviews of different brands.

– Look at alcohol by volume levels of Absinthes. Absinthe has an abv of between 50% and 75% usually. It is a very strong alcoholic beverage. Proof is approximately twice abv.

– Check that the Absinthe has a thujone level. Some websites list the thujone levels of Absinthes. If the Absinthe contains thujone that means that it is a genuine Absinthe which contains wormwood. Wormwood is a key ingredient in Absinthe, along with herbs such as aniseed and fennel, and it gives Absinthe its characteristic bitter edge.

– Make sure that the Absinthe also contains anise or aniseed. Some Czech Absinth does not contain anise and is more of a wormwood bitter.

– Buy known brands from reputable distillers. Look out for Absinthes which have won awards or that have good reviews. Known brands include Pernod (Absinthe not pastis), Kubler, Sebor, The Jade Collection by Ted Breaux, Doubs Mystique, Mari Mayans, La Clandestine – Bugnon, La Fee, Rodniks, Absinthe Roquette 1797 and Lucid.

– Shop around and compare prices. Remember to take into account shipping costs when comparing prices.

– Consider buying an Absinthe essence instead of bottled Absinthe. The essences from AbsintheKit.com are distilled from natural Absinthe herbs and you just simply mix 20ml of essence with 730ml of Everclear or vodka to make a real wormwood Absinthe. The essences only cost $3.95 for 20ml. AbsintheKit also sell absinthekits which contain enough essence to make 14 bottles of Absinthe, a plastic measure and 14 artistic bottle labels. The absinthe kits cost $29 and so are a very economical way to make real Absinthe.

How to order Absinthe Essences

Simply visit AbsintheKit.com to order Absinthe essences, Absinthe glasses and Absinthe slotted spoons. The company produces 4 different types of Absinthe essence:-

– Absinthe Classics – This essence makes a classic “verte” or green Absinthe.

– Absinthe White – This essence makes a clear, La Bleue Swiss style Absinthe.

– Absinthe Orange – To make an Absinthe with a twist, use this essence to make a yellow-orange colored Absinthe flavored with natural orange oil.

Absinthe Strong 55 – For those who like a stronger wormwood flavor, this essence will make an Absinthe containing 55mg of thujone per bottle. The resulting Absinthe will have a stronger, more bitter, wormwood taste.T he other essences will make Absinthes with 35mg of thujone.

All the essences are made from top-quality traditional Absinthe herbs and are distilled using high tech carbon dioxide distillation. Unlike steeping kits, these essences are already distilled and so will make a true Absinthe that will louche beautifully.

Enjoy learning about this wonderful drink and I hope that this information has helped you find out how to order Absinthe.

There is much controversy about the levels of the psychoactive chemical thujone in Absinthe and so many people want to know how to measure thujone levels in Absinthe that they have made at home. It is impossible to do this at home unless you have the right equipment and know what you are doing. Thujone levels can be measured by solid phase extraction and gas chromatography.

What is Thujone?

For those who don’t know, thujone is a chemical found in the herb common wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium) and in the past was thought to be psychoactive like THC in the drug cannabis. In large doses it was thought to have psychedelic effects, to cause convulsions, insanity, brain damage, and ultimately death. The alleged effects of thujone along with the fact that Absinthe was an intoxicant, being such a strong liquor, were enough for the prohibition movements in France, the United States and other countries to persuade governments to ban Absinthe.

Recently, studies have shown that thujone would have to be consumed in large quantities to cause any harmful side effects, so Absinthe with 10mg of thujone per liter or less was legalized in the European Union. Many people in the USA were disappointed that legalization did not take place at the same time in the United States. The United States required that alcoholic beverages should be “thujone free”.

Lux and Fire Erowid contacted both the FDA and the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to seek clarification on the laws surrounding the Green Fairy and thujone. The FDA used a rather outdated indicator test to test for the presence of thujone, not proper analytical chemistry. The TTB stated that wormwood products should be thujone free which meant less than the limit of detection – 10 ppm (parts per million).

Ted Breaux, an Absinthe distiller, tested his collectibles, antique vintage bottles of Absinthe, for thujone levels by using gas chromatography and was surprised by their low thujone levels. It was always believed that vintage pre ban Absinthe contained 260-350mg of thujone per liter, Breaux found that the highest reading from the vintage bottles was 6mg per liter – a very small amount. He also tested the Absinthes of his Jade collection in which he’d put a “full measure” of wormwood, and found that after distillation that these also contained only very small amounts of thujone.

Absinthe and the United States 2007

Breaux and the company Veridian developed an Absinthe called “Lucid” and were able to prove to the FDA and TTB that it contained less than 10 ppm of thujone. Lucid went on sale in the US in 2007 and was soon followed by a few other brands of Absinthe. Americans can now enjoy the taste of Absinthe at home and in bars throughout the US.

Does Absinthe Have Any Effects?

The thujone content in Absinthe is certainly not high enough to cause hallucinations, but Absinthe is a very strong alcoholic liquor, up to 75% abv. It is not meant to be consumed straight or on the rocks. The correct way to serve Absinthe is to pour a shot in an Absinthe glass and dilute with iced water poured over a cube of sugar.

It is possible to get drunk quite quickly when drinking Absinthe because of its strength, but the drunkenness associated with Absinthe drinking is very different from getting drunk on beer, wine or cider. Some of the herbs in Absinthe acts as a sedative and some as a stimulant so you experience a “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness – a strange experience!

Absinthe Kits and Thujone Levels

It is not important to know how to measure thujone levels in Absinthe if you use kits containing quality essences, like those from AbsintheKit.com, where thujone levels in the essences are already measured for you. These essences are easy to use. They are already distilled, you just have to mix with Everclear or vodka to make your very own real wormwood Absinthe.

Many people are searching online wanting to know how to make homemade Absinth (the German or Czech spelling) or Absinthe. It is such a mythical and mysterious drink and is also quite expensive so it is natural for people to look for ways to save money and have a bit of fun at the same time.

But, is it even possible to make homemade Absinthe? Yes and No.

Firstly, what is Absinthe? Absinthe is a wonderful liquor which has an interesting green color and an anise flavor. The green color gave it its nickname “The Green Fairy” or “La Fee Verte” in French. Absinthe is also available clear, this is called La Bleue or Blanche. In the past, it was thought that thujone in the drink could make people hallucinate or trip but this myth has now been proved false, Absinthe does not contain enough thujone.

Absinthe is a distilled liquor made in distilleries by macerating Absinthe herbs such as wormwood, aniseed and fennel. The distillation process allows the aromatic flavors of the herbs and essential oils to mix into the alcohol while getting rid of negative components like the bitterness of the wormwood. Other herbal ingredients are then used to give Absinthe its characteristic green color and other subtle flavors. The color comes from the chlorophyll in the plants. Can you do this at home? No, not unless you have got a license and a still!

How To Make Homemade Absinth or Absinthe

There are many recipes online to help you make Absinthe at home with herbal ingredients and alcohol but with this kind of recipe you are simply steeping and filtering and making a herbal flavored alcohol rather than making proper distilled Absinthe.

You can even buy kits from companies like Green Devil. Such companies provide you with a filters and blends of herbs including additional herbs such as calamus root and mint. Again these kits only produce Absinthe flavored alcohol, not the real Green Fairy!

How To Make Homemade Absinth or Absinthe properly

To do this you either have to set up a distillery or use distilled essences like those available from AbsintheKit.com.

AbsintheKit Essences:-

– Classic Green Absinthe Essence – Makes a classic green colored Absinthe.
– Orange Absinthe Essence – Makes a yellow-orange colored Absinthe which is naturally flavored with orange oil.
– Clear Absinthe Essence – Makes a Blanche or La Bleue style Absinthe.
– Strong 55 – Makes an Absinthe with a more intense wormwood flavor.

All four of these essences contain real wormwood with aniseed and fennel and are distilled using high tech carbon dioxide distillation. They are top-quality and are used by the Absinthe industry. These essences make a proper classic Absinthe and you only need 20ml to make 750ml of Absinthe – all you do is mix the essence with Everclear or vodka. No need to know how to make homemade Absinth or Absinthe when you can use these essences. See their website for further details and for Absinthiana such as replica Absinthe glasses and spoons.

Absinthe, also known as Absinth, Absynth, Absenta and the Green Fairy, is a strong alcoholic liquor flavored with natural herbs including wormwood (grande wormwood Artemisia Absinthium), aniseed and fennel. With Absinthe now being legal in many countries many people want to know how to make Absinth or Absinthe.

Josef Archleb of the Dobruska Distillery in the Czech Republic used the following recipe for his Absinth:-

For the Absinthe base – Grande wormwood, alcohol and water.
For the distillate – Anise seed, star of anise, cinnamon, grande wormwood, hyssop, mace, alcohol and water.

Henri-Louis Pernod of the Pernod Fils distillery in France, used a wine base and herbal ingredients including wormwood, fennel, aniseed, hyssop, angelica, lemon balm, star anise, juniper, dittany, veronica and nutmeg to make his classic French Absinthe.

Recipes online also include additional herbs like calamus root, mint, coriander, caraway seeds and cloves. The herbs are either distilled, which is illegal in many countries without a license, or steeped in a neutral alcohol and then filtered. Only distillation gives a true Absinthe, steeping will just give you an idea of the flavor of Absinthe.

How to Make Absinth or Absinthe the Easy Way

A real wormwood Absinthe can be made by using essences from AbsintheKit.com. This company sell their essences to the Absinthe industry, as well as consumers, and make their essences from natural top-quality herbs using high tech carbon dioxide distillation. All you have to do at home is to mix 20ml of essence with 730ml of Everclear or vodka and the end result is a real wormwood Absinthe.

They have 4 types of essences available:-

– Classic Green Essence – Use this essence if you like classic verte style Absinthes.

– Clear Absinthe Essence – Use this essence if you like the Blanche or La Bleue clandestine style Absinthes of Switzerland.

– Orange Essence – For a yellow-orange colored Absinthe with a natural orange flavor – Absinthe with a twist!

– Strong 55 Essence – This essence makes an Absinthe with a higher thujone content (55mg rather than 35mg) and therefore a more bitter wormwood taste.

You can either buy an essence for $3.95 ($4.95 for Strong) and make one bottle of Absinthe (750ml) or you can buy an Absinthe kit for $29 ($39 for Strong) which makes 14 bottles of Absinthe. A kit also includes artistic bottle labels and a handy plastic measure.

Once you have made your home-made Absinthe you will be asking how to make Absinth or Absinthe to serve. Absinthe is usually diluted with water and this way of preparation is called the Ritual. To prepare Absinthe this way you need to :-
– Pour a shot of Absinthe into a large glass or Absinthe glass.
– Place a sugar cube on an Absinthe spoon resting over the rim of the glass.
– Slowly drip iced water over the sugar and into the Absinthe. This will cause the Absinthe to louche, become cloudy.
– Keep adding water to taste – a ratio of between 3:1 and 5:1 water to Absinthe is usual.
– Stir and enjoy your Absinthe drink.

That’s how to make Absinth or Absinthe!

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Absinthe is an expensive liquor so many people want to find a how to make Absinthe recipe to use at home.

Absinthe is a distilled spirit and so it is complicated to make from first ingredients at home, especially when distillation is illegal in many countries without a proper license.

Absinthe was originally produced commercially by Henri-Louis Pernod who used a wine base and natural herbs. His Absinthe recipe included the three main Absinthe herbs – wormwood (artemisia absinthium), aniseed and fennel, along with veronica, dittany, juniper, nutmeg, hyssop, star anise, lemon balm and angelica. These herbs are still used in Absinthe production today and some Absinthe distillers also use additional herbs such as calamus root, coriander seeds and mint.

Using recipes and mixing herbs with alcohol like vodka, steeping and then filtering is not to be recommended because this method does not involve distillation and simply produces an alcohol with a flavor a bit like Absinthe not true Absinthe.

By far the easiest way of making real Absinthe at home is to use Absinthe essences. AbsintheKit.com produce Absinthe essences for both the Absinthe industry and for the public. These essences are already distilled and are produced with the finest Absinthe herbs and essential oils. Simply mix 20ml of essence with 730ml of neutral alcohol, such as vodka or Everclear, to make your very own bottle of the Green Fairy. There are even 4 different types of essence to choose from – something to suit everyone whether you like a classic verte Absinthe, a strong Absinthe, a clear Absinthe or an orange flavored Absinthe.

Absinthe is also used in many cocktails and food. There are many articles online containing recipes and information, I even found a great recipe for Absinthe cookies sprinkled with sugar crystals! Ernest Hemingway, the famous writer and Absinthe drinker, drank “Death in the Afternoon” which is Absinthe mixed with champagne!

You also need to know how to prepare Absinthe to serve. Absinthe is a very different and special alcoholic beverage in that it is not often served straight but, instead, is diluted with iced water. It also has its own equipment or “Absinthiana” used in Absinthe preparation – Absinthe glasses and spoons, drippers or fountains. Many of these are now expensive antiques but you can buy replica items from companies like AbsintheKit.com.

To prepare your Absinthe in the traditional way known as “The Ritual”, you need to pour a shot of Absinthe into a large glass or Absinthe glass. Get a slotted Absinthe spoon (cuillere) and rest it over the rim of the glass. Place a cube of granulated sugar on the spoon and slowly drip or pour iced water over the sugar and into the Absinthe. Hopefully, you will now see the effect known as the “louche” when the essential oils, which are not soluble in water, cause the drink to turn milky or cloudy. Stir your Absinthe and drink it – easy!

When you use an essence and follow the guidelines for the Ritual you really don’t need to find a how to make Absinthe recipe.

Knowing how to make the perfect Absinthe is important and you need to learn and follow the “Absinthe Ritual” or recipe, but you first need to make sure that you have the perfect ingredients and that means buying quality Absinthe.

There are many low quality or even fake Absinthes available from suppliers especially those who are selling to the USA. The reason for this is that Absinthe contains the chemical thujone which comes from the herb wormwood, the main ingredient in real Absinthe along with anise and fennel. The safety of thujone was brought into question in the early 20th century. It was thought to be psychoactive and have psychedelic effects like those caused by THC in cannabis. Drinking the Green Fairy, the nickname for Absinthe, was thought to drive you insane! Absinthe was therefore banned for sale and made illegal in many countries in the early 1900s.

In the 1990s there was an Absinthe revival as Absinthe was made legal in most countries. Studies had shown that Absinthe was no more harmful than any other strong liquor and that it only contained minute quanitities of thujone. EU guidelines mean that Absinthe sold bottled in the EU may only contain up to 10mg/kg of thujone and the USA will only allow trace amounts. Most people believe that real Absinthe should contain 35mg/kg of thujone.

Buying Tips

There is a bewildering array of Absinthe for sale online so here is some help and some tips for buying quality Absinthe:-
– Make sure that it actually contains wormwood. The botanical name for wormwood is Artemisia Absinthium. Wormwood gives Absinthe its thujone and its characteristic bitter taste. If the Absinthe on sale does not contain wormwood then it is not Absinthe!
– Make sure that it also contains aniseed and fennel which are the other 2 key ingredients. Other herbal ingrediants may include lemon balm, star anise, hyssop, sweet flag, juniper, petite wormwood, coriander and angelica roots.
– Look at the Alcohol By Volume. Absinthe is a strong alcoholic beverage, twice as strong as spirits such as whisky and vodka. Absinthe should contain between 45-75% ABV. Real Absinthe is a 100% distilled herbal beverage.
– Use Absinthe essences to make your own bottled Absinthe. Absinthe essence containing real Wormwood are supplied by companies like AbsintheKit.com who also supply these essences to the Absinthe distilleries. Using these essences you can make your own top-quality traditional Absinthe containing the proper amount of thujone, 35mg/kg and save yourself some money.

How to Make Absinthe using the Ritual

There are video tutorials on the Internet to help you make the perfect Absinthe drink but it really is quite simple. Patience is the key as well as using the correct equipment or “Absinthiana”.
You will need:-
– An Absinthe glass.
– An Absinthe spoon (cuillere).
– Quality Absinthe.
– Iced Water.
– A cube of sugar.

Pour the required amount of Absinthe, about 25-50ml, into the glass. Rest the Absinthe spoon over the top of the glass and place the sugar cube on the spoon. Pour the iced water slowly over the sugar. This is when you need patience because you really need to let the water drip onto the sugar slowly. An Absinthe fountain can be used which allows the water to drip out slowly onto the sugar.
As the water and sugar solution mixes into the Absinthe, the essential herbal oils cause the Absinthe to louche, become cloudy. This effect can be quite dramatic if the water is dripped in slowly – it is fascinating to watch.
The ratio of water to Absinthe should be between 3:1 and 5:1 depending on your taste. Once the water has dripped through the spoon, you can stir the Absinthe and enjoy your drink.

As you can see it is easy to learn how to make Absinthe and you should enjoy the experience of making and drinking this wonderful mythical and mysterious drink.

Absinthe is now legal in most countries and you can even buy Absinthe in the United States. This has sparked off a renewed interest in Absinthe and a new generation is wanting to know how to get Absinthe.

Absinthe is a strong liquor which is made by distilling alcohol with a recipe of natural herbs. Traditional herbs used in Absinthe manufacture include common wormwood, also known as grande wormwood or artemisia absinthum, aniseed and fennel. The aniseed gives the Absinthe its famous anise or licorice flavor and the wormwood gives the drink an edge of bitterness. Wormwood contains a chemical called thujone which was thought to be psychoactive and to cause psychedelic effects. It was claimed that Absinthe contained large amounts of thujone and so it was banned in the early 1900s. Research and tests showed that Absinthe actually only contained very small amounts of thujone, not enough to cause any effect whatsoever, and so the drink was once again legalized in most countries.

To experience the real taste of Absinthe you need to buy an Absinthe which contains wormwood. Don’t be conned by the many fake Absinthes or substitute Absinthes – you need original wormwood Absinthe.

How to get Absinthe which contains wormwood

Here are some buying tips to help you purchase a true Absinthe:-

– Make your own from a kit. AbsintheKit.com sell absinthekits which contain an Absinthe essence, a plastic measure and 14 artistic bottle labels. The kit costs $29 and it contains enough essence to make 14 bottles of absinthe. Unlike steeping kits, the kits from AbsintheKit are already distilled so, when you mix them with vodka or Everclear, you get a true Absinthe. The essences contain the traditional Absinthe herbs, including wormwood, and are an economical way of obtaining a real wormwood Absinthe.

– Educate yourself about Absinthe online. Use the Buyer’s Guide on sites like lafeeverte.net to read up about Absinthes and to read reviews on particular brands.

– Check that the Absinthe contains wormwood and not just southernwood or roman wormwood. The Absinthe should also contain anise or aniseed. Some Czech Absinth are wormwood bitters, not true Absinthe, because they are anise free.

– Shop around and compare prices.

– Buy brands made by reputable distillers and look for Absinthes that have won awards.

How to get Absinthe classics

Here are just a few Absinthes that you may want to consider trying. They are all real wormwood Absinthes.

– AbsintheKit.com Absinthe Classics essence – This essence makes a classic “verte” or green Absinthe which louches beautifully.

– The Jade Collection – This collection of vintage style Absinthes are distilled by Ted Breaux in France. They have won awards and have got lots of good reviews and write-ups online.

– Mari Mayans 70 – A Spanish Absinthe (Absenta). This collectors 70 edition has won awards and has been made in Ibiza since 1880. Absinthe was never banned in Spain so this Absinthe has always been in production.

– Sebor – A Czech Absinth which contains both wormwood and anise. It is a well known Czech brand with a good reputation.

– La Boheme Absinthe Original – A Czech Absinthe which is based on a 200 year old Swiss recipe.

– Absinthe Roquete 1797 – This French Absinthe is based on an original 18th century recipe and is distilled in 19th century alambics.

Other noteworthy Absinthes are La Ptite Douce, Absinthe La Clandestine, Doubs Mystique Carte’Or, Absinthe Duplais and Lucid, which is available in the USA.

When you have bought your chosen Absinthe remember to follow the Ritual and to use an Absinthe glass and slotted spoon. Replicas of antique glasses and spoons can be purchased from AbsintheKit.com.

Now you know how to get Absinthe, enjoy the taste of the Green Fairy.