Wormwood oil is an essential oil from the Common Wormwood plant, also known as Artemisia Absinthium. The wormwood plant is a perennial herb which often grows in rocky areas and on arid ground in the Mediterranean area, Asia and North Africa. It has also been found growing in North America. Wormwood has other names including green ginger, grande wormwood, armoise and absinthum or absinthium.

The plant has silver gray leaves and tiny yellow flowers and the leaves have tiny oil producing glands on them. It is in a group of plants called artemisias which are in the Aster family (Asteraceae). Other artemisia plants include tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood.

Its name Absinthium is thought to be from the Ancient Greek which may mean “unenjoyable” perhaps referring to its bitter taste. The Artemisia group of plants were linked to the moon goddess Artemis. In the Book of Revelation, in the Bible, the Wormwood star falls to Earth and poisons all of the Earth’s freshwater.

For use as a herb and essential oil, the leaves and aromatic flowers are collected and dried. Wormwood oil is an extraction from the flowers and leaves using the technique of steam distillation.

Wormwood Oil and Medicine

Wormwood has been used as a herb and essential oil in medicine since Ancient times. Here are some of its uses:-

– As a tea to give to women to help ease labor pains.
– As an antiseptic.
– In the pharmaceutical industry as a cardiac stimulant.
– As a digestive tonic, to stimulate digestion.
– As a anthemintic – to expel parasitic intestinal worms.
– To reduce fevers.
– To counteract poisoning caused by toadstools and hemlock.

Although it is an aromatizing herb and has been used since Ancient times, many aromatherapists will not now use it because it is a neurotoxin and convulsant and the oil contains large amounts of thujone which has been compared to THC the chemical in the narcotic drug cannabis. Thujone is on the banned substances list of the FDA in the USA and cannot be used as a food additive.

Wormwood and Cooking

Wormwood extract has been used by chefs in sauces and in stuffings for poultry and goose.

Wormwood and Absinthe

Wormwood is well known as being one of the natural primary ingredients of the strong herbal liquor Absinthe. It even gives Absinthe its name.

Absinthe, otherwise known as the Green Fairy, was a famous alcoholic beverage, of the Belle Epoque period in France. Absinthe contained many plant extracts and essences, which were natural and not synthetic, including wormwood, green aniseed, fennel, star anise, lemon balm, hyssop and many others. These essential oils in the Absinthe cause the Absinthe to louche when the water is added to the drink.

Absinthe was famously banned in the early 1900s because many believed that the wormwood in Absinthe caused hallucinations, addiction, weakened the intellectual part of the brain and was toxic. Some believe that Van Gogh’s suicide was caused by “absinthism”, his prolonged enjoyment of Absinthe.

Absinthe Today

The wormwood oil in Absinthe is now thought to only contain very small amounts of thujone and Absinthe has therefore been legalized for sale in most countries. You can even buy essences to make your own bottled Absinthe from companies like AbsintheKit.com whose essences include real wormwood in safe doses.

Wormwood oil extracted from Artemisia absinthium, a herb that grows in the temperate regions of North Africa, Asia, and Europe. Wormwood has been used for its medicinal properties for centuries. Wormwood oil is considered toxic in its pure concentrated form. It is extracted using the steam distillation method. Only the leaves and flowering tops of the plant are used for oil extraction.

The plant Artemisia absinthium belongs to the Asteraceae family and is also known as the green ginger, wormwood, absinthium, and armoise. The medicinal properties of this plant were recognized by early civilizations. In fact, the word absinthium comes from a Greek word apsinthion. Wormwood oil has been used in the treatment of several conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, indigestion, Gall bladder inflammation and as an agent that expels intestinal parasites. Wormwood oil’s aromatic and antiseptic properties were appreciated by medical practitioners for centuries.

At the end of the eighteenth century a French doctor Dr Pierre Ordinaire invented absinthe using wormwood to treat stomach ailments. It was also used a digestive tonic in those days. Absinthe soon caught the fancy of the public and by the end of nineteenth century it had become one of the most sought after liquors in Europe. So popular had absinthe become that at one time it rivaled wine in popularity. Absinthe however, had high alcohol content and its unique effects added to its popularity. It was the favorite drink of many intellectuals, artists and painters along with the common man. Absinthe was considered as a creative stimulant and many great artists, painters and writers of the eighteenth and nineteenth century attributed their creative genius to its unique effects.

Absinthe is made using various herbs and neutral spirits; the main herb being wormwood. Thujone a chemical present in wormwood oil and other essential oils from other herbs were considered responsible for the unique effects of absinthe liquor. Thujone consumed in higher concentrations can cause hallucinations, hyper excitability, and in some cases brain damage

The late nineteenth century also saw an increase in alcohol addiction levels amongst the general population in Europe. Due to unsubstantiated rumors and misinformation, absinthe was eventually banned in most parts of Europe and North America at the beginning of the twentieth century. However, in the light of new research published in the later part of the twentieth century and early twenty-first century most countries in Europe lifted the ban and allowed production, consumption, and sale of absinthe. The research clearly demonstrated, using sophisticated analytical tools that thujone content in absinthe was within safe limits and fit for human consumption in moderation.

Wormwood oil is today used by many herbalists to treat indigestion, worm infestation and other liver and gall bladder problems. Wormwood oil contains active substances like thujone and isothujone.

Wormwood oil is also used in the preparation of absinthe essence. Absinthe continues to be banned in America. However, American citizens can purchase absinthe essence and absinthe kits from non-US producers online and prepare their own absinthe liquor.

For more authentic information on absinthe kits, absinthe essence, and other absinthe accessories visit absinthekit.com

Absinthe the legendary liquor of nineteenth century Europe has made a stunning comeback after being banned for most part of the twentieth century. Absinthe is considered a living fossil amongst all modern drinks. It has the ability to transport its lovers back to the magical days of nineteenth century Europe. Absinthe was the most popular drink of Europeans before it was wrongfully banned. Pre ban Vintage absinthe reminds connoisseurs of the glittering cafés of Paris, bohemian musicians, great painters like Vincent Van Gogh and Picasso and an era that epitomized artistic and cultural refinement.

Absinthe was invented by a French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire just after the French revolution. It was initially used for treating stomach ailments. It was also called “La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” this nickname is fondly used even today. In 1805 the first factory to commercially produce absinthe was started by Henri Louis Pernod, as by that time absinthe was considered an appetizing alcoholic beverage. Absinthe’s popularity grew by leaps and bounds and soon it became the most preferred drink in all cabarets and cafés of Paris. Everyday 5 p.m. was celebrated as the green hour.

By the middle of the nineteenth century concerns were raised as chronic abuse of absinthe had started creating social problems. Absinthe was blamed for a syndrome called absinthism. Hallucinations, epileptic fits, and hyper-excitability were considered as the classic symptoms of this new syndrome. Belgium banned absinthe in the year 1905 and by 1915 almost all European countries except Spain had banned absinthe. Most of the reputed distilleries that were producing absinthe went bankrupt and closed down while some distilleries started producing pastis.

However, in the beginning of this century most European countries lifted the ban on absinthe in the light of new discoveries that rubbished the claim that absinthe contained abnormal levels of thujone. This renewed interest in absinthe; and once again absinthe started to claim its rightful place amongst the finest of liquors. Suddenly vintage bottles of absinthe were the most sought after items and collectors began collecting vintage absinthe bottles from century old cellars.

Vintage absinthe sells for a phenomenal amount and there are people who are ready to pay hundreds of dollars for a 30mL samples. Perfectly sealed bottles with the cork intact sell for hundreds of dollars. The absinthe in these vintage absinthe bottles is very well preserved and louches beautifully and is remarkably smooth to drink.
However, not everyone has the resources to buy vintage absinthe just to spend an evening with the “Green Fairy”. The best alternative to vintage absinthe is to order absinthe essence and prepare your very own absinthe with neutral spirits like vodka. United States continues to ban production and sale of absinthe. US citizens can posses and consume absinthe as it is not a crime. The closest you can get to taste pre-ban absinthe is by ordering absinthe essence from non-US producers of absinthe essence and absinthe kits and make your own absinthe at home. The essence is made using the classic absinthe recipes.

Absinthekit.com is the most trusted site that offers a variety of genuine absinthe essence, absinthe kits, and other absinthe accessories.

There are so many websites selling Absinthe and Absinthekits that its hard to know where to buy Absinthe online, especially if you’re new to Absinthe.

Absinthe, otherwise known as the Green Fairy or La Fee Verte, is a strong alcoholic beverage with an anise taste. Henri-Louise Pernod’s original Absinthe was made with a wine alcohol base and flavored with herbs such as grande wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), aniseed and fennel. Although Absinthe is distilled at high proof and is very strong, it is served diluted with iced water. It is approximately twice as strong as other spirits such as vodka and whisky.

Real Absinthe contains the herb wormwood which gives the drink its characteristic bitter taste. Wormwood contains the chemical thujone which was one of the reasons why the drink was banned in the early 1900s. It was thought that thujone was psychoactive and harmful to health. Studies and tests have now shown that Absinthe, even pre ban Absinthe from distilleries like Pernod, only contains trace amounts of thujone and is not harmful.

Absinthe is enjoyed by using a preparation method called The Ritual. A shot of Absinthe in an Absinthe glass is slowly diluted with water dripped over a cube of sugar on an Absinthe spoon. The water gradually mixes into the alcohol causing the drink to louche and become cloudy. Only Absinthe containing real herbs and essential oils will louche so you need to make sure you use a top-quality Absinthe.

Where to Buy Absinthe online – real Absinthe

To enjoy Absinthe properly you need to order a quality Absinthe made by a reputable distillery. An Absinthe which contains wormwood. Some websites will give you details about alcohol by volume (or proof) and thujone content. For example, Absinth24.net says that Absinthe La Clandestine from Claude-Alain Bugnon has an alcohol by volume of 53% and has less than 30mg of thujone. Thedrinkshop.com, a UK based company gives very good product descriptions of the Absinthe available to order on their web shop and also has product reviews.

Another good way of ensuring that you use quality Absinthe, is to make your won. Now, home distillation is illegal in most countries unless you have a license and Absinthe just is not real Absinthe without the distillation process. However, AbsintheKit.com make real wormwood Absinthe essences which are distilled by high tech carbon dioxide distillation. They contain natural, traditional herbs and are the same essences that AbsintheKit sell to the Absinthe industry. They are already distilled so you don’t have to do anything apart from mixing 20ml of essence with 730ml of vodka or Everclear. That’s it, very easy.

The essences come in 4 different varieties:-

Absinthe Classic Essence – This essence makes a classic green Absinthe with a thujone content of 35mg.

Absinthe White Essence – Use this essence to make a clear Absinthe reminiscent of Swiss La Bleue style Absinthes. This essence makes an Absinthe with a 35mg thujone content.

Absinthe Orange Essence – Flavored with natural orange oil, this essence makes a yellowy orange Absinthe with a thujone content of 35mg.

Absinthe 55 Strong Essence – You should use this essence if you want a darker green Absinthe with a stronger wormwood flavor. The thujone content will be 55mg.

The essences are available in 20ml bottles, to make one 750ml bottle of Absinthe, or in 280ml bottles to make 14 bottles of Absinthe. The AbsintheKits contain a 280ml bottle of essence, a handy plastic measure and artistic bottle labels.

Knowing where to buy Absinthe online is important if you want quality Absinthe that tastes right and that louches. Look for reputable companies selling award winning brands or make your own from essences.

Absinthe is a strong anise flavor liquor which is made by distilling alcohol with herbs such as wormwood, aniseed and fennel. We know it is strong and can get you drunk easily, but what percentage is Absinthe and what is its proof?

Let’s look at the alcohol by volume levels of popular brands of Absinthe:-

La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise 68% abv (136 proof)
Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or 65% abv (130 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
Jade Edouard 72% abv (144 proof)
Sebor 55% abv (110 proof)
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 70% abv (140 proof)
La Fee Parisian 68% abv (136 proof)
Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)
Pernod Absinthe 68% abv (136 proof)
Kubler 53 53% abv (106 proof)
Pere Kermanns 60% abv (120 proof)
Jade PF 1901 68% abv (136 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
Roquette 1797 75% abv (150 proof)
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)

Let’s now compare Absinthe to other beverages:-

Whisky – Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof)
Absinthe can be up to 75% alcohol by volume (150 proof)
Table Wine 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof)
Beer tends to be 4 or 5% alcohol by volume (8-10 proof)

Now, the alcohol-information.com website has worked out that if you have one shot of 190 proof Everclear is equivalent to drinking 2.85 bottles of beer and about 3 brandies. With this information we can establish that one shot of Absinthe is equivalent to 2.25 bottles of beer. So, the 22 shots Absinthe is equivalent to 49.5 bottles of beer!

As you can see, Absinthe is much stronger than types of fermented drinks such as wine and beer and even stronger than whisky. We therefore need to be careful when consuming Absinthe, not because it will make us have hallucinations, or any other psychedelic effects, but because it is so strong and will intoxicate quickly. We need to take particular care when mixing Absinthe with other alcoholic drinks in cocktails.

Care should also be taken when making your own homemade Absinthe drink. If you buy an Absinthe kit from someone like Green Devil then you are simply steeping herbs in a neutral alcohol such as Everclear or vodka. Now, Everclear has an abv of 95% and a proof of 190 so it is much stronger than commercial Absinthe. Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com also have to be mixed with a neutral alcohol such as Everclear or vodka. Your finished Absinthe will be whatever the proof or abv of the neutral alcohol you have used.

What percentage is in Absinthe? For commercial Absinthe just look on the bottle label or, if you are ordering online, look at the product details for abv or proof. If you are making your own Absinthe from a kit, you need to look at the bottle of Everclear or vodka that you are using.

There is much interest in Absinthe, the drink known as the Green Fairy or La Fee Verte. People want to know how to buy it, what type to buy, how to prepare it and what is the recommended amount of Absinthe to use when preparing a drink.

First you need to buy a quality Absinthe which is rich in essential oils and that contains wormwood. There are many Absinthe substitutes and fake Absinthes on sale which contain southernwood or roman wormwood instead of common wormwood (artemisia absinthium). Make sure you buy a proper real Absinthe. If you live in a country where it is hard to find a good quality Absinthe then you could make your own Absinthe using essences from AbsintheKit.com.

Once you have got your Absinthe, you will need to learn The Ritual, or La Louche. This is the traditional French or Swiss way of preparing Absinthe and it uses one shot of Absinthe. Here are the instructions:-

To perform the Ritual, you will need an Absinthe glass, a slotted Absinthe spoon, a lump of sugar and iced water.

– Pour 25-50ml of Absinthe into the glass.
– Rest the Absinthe spoon over the rim of the glass and place a cube of sugar on it.
– Slowly drip iced water over the sugar either by dripping from the tap of the fountain or by using a steady hand to pour from a carafe. Dripping it slowly will give the sugar chance to dissolve and drip through the slots of the spoon. You should see a lovely “louche” effect as the water mixes into the alcohol. The Absinthe louches because the essential oils of the herbs are soluble in alcohol but not in water and so make the mixture cloudy or milky when water is added.
– Sit back and enjoy your Absinthe drink.

The Bohemian or Czech Method is very similar to the Ritual but is a modern way of preparing cheap Czech Absinthes. The Bohemian method is scorned by many Absinthe followers.

Instructions and tips for using the Bohemian method:-

– Pour 25-50ml of Absinthe into the glass and dip the sugar cube into it to soak the sugar.
– Place sugar cube on the Absinthe spoon and rest on the rim of the glass.
– Set the sugar cube alight for one minute to allow the sugar to caramelize and melt. The sugar should drip through the slots of the spoon and into the Absinthe.
– Put the spoon into the Absinthe and pour the iced water into the Absinthe to put out any flames and to cause the Absinthe to louche.
– Enjoy your Absinthe drink.

If you want to enjoy your Absinthe properly the you will want some Absinthiana – Absinthe glasses, spoons and perhaps even an Absinthe fountain to control the flow of the water. Replicas of antique spoons and glasses can be purchased from AbsintheKit.com.

So, what is the recommended amount of Absinthe to use when preparing an Absinthe drink? About 45ml or a US shot. Obviously, you can use Absinthe in cocktails too – search for recipes online.

Many people are asking “What is Absinthe?” because there has been an Absinthe revival since the 1990s when the liquor Absinthe was made legal to buy in many countries after having been outlawed since the early 1900s.

Absinthe is a strong spirit, not a liqueur which is high proof and has approximately twice the alcohol content of other alcoholic beverages such as whisky and vodka. Although high proof when bought in the bottle, it is served diluted with iced water to taste, normally at a ratio of between 3:1 and 5:1 water to Absinthe.

Absinthe has an interesting history. It is claimed that it was created in the 18th century by a French doctor living in Couvet, Switzerland, Dr Pierre Ordinaire. He created it as an elixir to treat his patients and it apparently had miraculous effects. This story is legend but what is known is that a pair of sisters living in the same town as the doctor used the recipe commercially to sell the elixir to pharmacies and then sold the recipe to a French major, Major Dubied whose daughter married into the Pernod family. Henri-Louis Pernod, Major Dubied and his son, opened an Absinthe distillery in Couvet, distilling Absinthe under the name of “Dubied Pere et Fils” (Dubied and Son). A few years later, in 1805, Pernod opened a distillery in Pontarlier, France and started trading under the name of “Maison Pernod Fils”. The Pernod family opened another new distillery in France a few years later. Commercial Absinthe production began and by the middle of the 19th century Pernod were producing over 30,000 liters of Absinthe every day!

Pernod became known, and is still known, for the quality of their Absinthe which is distilled from wine and contains the essential herbal ingredient wormwood (Artimisia Absinthium), fennel and the herb melissa.

Absinthe may also be flavored with many other herbs including green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, angelica root, licorice, lemon balm, coriander and sweet flag. It is the essential oils in these herbs which make Absinthe “louche” when mixed with water. The oils are not water soluble and so cause the drink to go cloudy or milky – this is meant to happen and is great to watch.

The main ingredient, wormwood, has been used since ancient times as medicine for treating:-
– fevers
– parasitic intestinal worms
– the poisoning effects of hemlock and toadstools
It has also been used to stimulate digestion and as a tonic.
Wormwood contains a chemical called thujone which was believed to be psychoactive and cause psychedelic effects and to be an hallucinogen. This chemical ingredient, and the fact that Absinthe was such a strong drink, was the reason for Absinthe being banned and made illegal in the early 1900s in many countries.
Later studies showed that drinking Absinthe was no more dangerous than drinking any other strong alcohol and that it only contained small amounts of thujone.

There are strict guidelines for the sale of Absinthe in the EU and United States. Bottled Absinthe in the EU can only contain a maximum of 10mg/kg of thujone and US laws mean that bottles shipped to or sold in the United States can only contain trace amounts of thujone as it is an illegal food additive in the US.

Absinthe is available for sale online from many different suppliers but if you want real Absinthe you need to make sure that it contains wormwood. Absinthe essences are available online at AbsintheKit.com and these enable you to make your own bottled Absinthe by mixing the essence, containing real wormwood, with vodka or Everclear.

So, what is Absinthe? It is a wonderful drink which is a joy to prepare and drink and the perfect aperitif.

People are searching desperately on the Internet for information on Absinthe and how to use it. Many now want to introduce their friends to the Green Fairy and to use the drink when entertaining. But what food to serve with Absinthe?

Absinthe was created by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in the late 18th century as a medicinal elixir or tonic. The vital herbal ingredient, wormwood (artemisia absinthium) has been used since ancient times as a digestive tonic and to stimulate the appetite. Absinthe should therefore be served as an aperitif before a meal, an appetizer served with some hors d’oeuvres and finger food.

Absinthe has a strong anise flavor and a slight bitterness so it is best not to serve it with a meal. However, Absinthe can be used in cooking, just like wine. When cooking, the alcohol will be burned off and you will be left with the anise or licorice taste which is great in marinades. Here is a recipe for a tasty marinade for chicken or fish.

Ingredients:-
2 tbsp dried tarragon or a handful of fresh tarragon
2 tbsp dried chervil or a handful of fresh chervil
1 cup of Absinthe
1 cup of dry white wine
2 tbsp sugar
A dash of salt and a grind of pepper

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and leave for a few hours, preferably overnight. Marinade chicken or fish in the mixture for a couple of hours in the fridge and then grill, barbecue or bake to burn off the alcohol.

You can also use Absinthe in stir fries and when basting meats, but make sure that you always mix it with sugar or fruit juice to compensate for the bitterness of the wormwood.

Even the sexy French chef Jean-Christophe Novelli has been known to use it in his recipes – risottos, Absinthe ice cream and marinades and infusions for vegetables and fish. Absinthe ice cream -yum!

There are also many recipes online for Absinthe cookies and Absinthe cupcakes with Absinthe frosting. Absinthe has so many uses!

Absinthe is also great in cocktails. Ernest Hemingway created a cocktail called “Death in the Afternoon” in which he famously mixed Absinthe with champagne, very decadent. The Sazerac is a popular Absinthe cocktail typically served in New Orleans:-

Sazerac
1 teaspoon of Absinthe
1 teaspoon of sugar
1 ½ ounces of rye whisky
3 dashes of Angostura bitters
Ice cubes

Freeze a cocktail glass in the freezer then pour the Absinthe into it, swilling it around to let it coat the inside of the glass.
Put the remaining ingredients into a cocktail shaker, shake and pour into the glass. Garnish with a twist of lemon and drink.

You must remember, when you are mixing Absinthe with other alcoholic drinks, that Absinthe is a very strong liquor – up to 150 proof, 75% alcohol by volume, so don’t get carried away!

So, what food to serve with Absinthe? Serve Absinthe as an aperitif before any meal, use it in cocktails, marinades, ice cream and cakes. Enjoy the Green Fairy.