The absinthe ritual, which is so essential for louching absinthe, will not be possible without the absinthe spoon. Initially various devices were used for this purpose. The most common device was a metal cup with perforations at the bottom. This cup had wire legs and the cup was placed the glass and it rested on the rim of the glass. The sugar cube was placed in this cup and water added over it. Absinthe strainers and absinthe mixers were also prevalent in the initial days. Around the end of the nineteenth century, 1880 to be precise the absinthe spoon or cuillere was introduced. Since then absinthe spoon became an integral part of the absinthe ritual.

Many spoons from absinthe’s golden era still survive. Marie-Claude Delahaye, founder of the Musée de l’Absinthe, an avid collector of absinthe artifacts and an authority on absinthe history has documented more than 375 types of absinthe spoons. Absinthe spoons can be classified into three major categories. The first major category is also the most common. This type of spoon is more like a French shovel, there were several variations to this type the most famous variations included shapes of leaves “les feuilles”. These types of absinthe spoons were in the shape of leaves of various herbs used in the preparation of absinthe. A very famous variation is that of the Eiffel tower, this original absinthe spoon is in great demand. The second type of absinthe spoons are the “les grilles” and the third type is the “les cuilleres”.

Generally absinthe spoons were made of cheap metal as they were intended for public use. The metal of choice was nickel silver or other alloys. Some nickel spoons were chrome or silver plated. Solid silver spoons were used by people from higher classes and hotels. One common thing about absinthe spoons is that most had intricate geometrical designs. Today spoons from the nineteenth century carry a heavy price tag for their antique value.

For absinthe lovers today a great number of spoons are available. The price range is from a few dollars to as high as $50. The price depends on the design, metal, and style of the spoon. The absinthe spoons are about six to eight inches in length.

Thanks to the internet a variety of absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses, and absinthe fountains can be found in online stores. Some stores offer free spoons as promotion along with absinthe bottle or absinthe kit. When choosing absinthe spoons you need to consider the size of the spoon as it should fit properly on your absinthe glass. The preferred metal should be stainless steel or aluminum as iron spoons may rust easily.

It is recommended that you buy good quality absinthe spoons; this may be slightly expensive but will ensure that you get the perfect louching and absinthe flavor won’t be compromised. One place where you get good deals on quality absinthe spoons and other absinthe accessories is abinthekit.com.

Absinthe one of the finest liquor of all times has made a handsome comeback after being banned for almost a century. Absinthe accessories and other barware like absinthe glasses, absinthe spoons and other absinthe products have been in great demand the world over. Part of the demand is due to the history and the culture associated with it. Absinthe is a drink that has to be prepared by following a traditional ritual. There are two very commonly followed rituals to make the absinthe drink.

Traditional French ritual requires an absinthe glass, absinthe, special absinthe spoon, sugar cubes, and ice cold water. The first step involves pouring absinthe dose in the special absinthe glass which has an etched line to mark the quantity of absinthe. A special flat perforated absinthe spoon is placed on top of the glass and a sugar cube is placed on the spoon. Ice cold water is then dripped over the cube so that it dissolves in the dripping water and falls in the glass containing absinthe. As the absinthe gets diluted it turns from clear green to opaque white, this is called the louche effect. Louching happens as essential oils from the herbs such as wormwood gets precipitated.

Absinthe spoons have a very important part in the absinthe ritual and as such they are a very important accessory in bars and cafés that serve absinthe. The absinthe spoon is perforated and slotted in order to allow the sugar and ice-cold water to seep through. Absinthe has high alcohol content and adding water is a necessity. Initially absinthe spoon were only functional but by the end of the 1870s absinthe spoons got a very decorative and refined look. A wide variety of designs, style, and forms of absinthe spoons were seen at the bars.

Some of the styles and designs are works of art and more often their design and form represent a period in history. In 1889 the Eiffel tower was inaugurated and to mark this historical occasion, absinthe spoon was made in the shape of the Eiffel tower. This is the most sought after style of spoon. The original Eiffel tower spoon today commands a premium in the antique market. Some spoons resembled leaves while others had geometrical designs. Absinthe spoons were also used for publicity by producers of absinthe.

Absinthe spoons still carry a heavy price tag. The commemorative and antique spoons are collectibles and command a premium. Even other accessories such as fountains which were used to pour cold water over sugar cubes, and absinthe glasses are much in demand. Original absinthe spoons are difficult to separate from the fakes that are being peddled as originals. One secret tip is to look for the stamping as original spoons were stamped while fakes are molded. Also original spoons will have show some defects and differences when two original absinthe spoons are compared.

In case you do not want to buy the original absinthe you can opt for exact replicas for as less as $10. There are a number of websites that sell absinthe spoons and other absinthe accessories at reasonable prices. One such place is absinthekit.com

Absinthe the legendary liquor of nineteenth century Europe is back after being banned in most parts of Europe and North America. Today, absinthe recipes are most sought after recipes amongst all the alcoholic beverages. But before we discuss the different absinthe recipes, let us have a brief introduction of this legendary drink.

This fine liquor started out as a digestive tonic after it was first invented by the French doctor Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland in the eighteenth century. Absinthe soon became the most popular drink of the masses in Europe. The bohemian lifestyle of nineteenth century Europe embraced this drink and after that there was no looking back. So popular was absinthe that at one time it rivaled wine. Great artists and writers were very fond of absinthe and attributed their creative genius to its wonderful effects. Painters and writers like Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde, and Hemmingway amongst many others, who revolutionized the art and literary scene of Europe, were smitten by the green fairy. Absinthe drink is prepared by an elaborate ritual. The traditional French ritual and the more modern Czech ritual are the two most well known rituals.

Both rituals involve special absinthe glasses and absinthe spoons along with ice-cold water. These rituals also add to absinthe’s charm and mystique. In the beginning of the twentieth century absinthe was banned due to certain misconceptions and unfounded rumors. However, since the beginning of this century most of the European countries have lifted the ban and now absinthe is easily accessible to lovers of “the green fairy”.

Absinthe preparation can be divided in two steps. The first step is maceration, in this step the herbs such as wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), green anise, fennel seed, angelica root, and star anise are soaked in a neutral spirit. The mixture is kept for a few days and then filtered and water is added to the mixture and distilled. Once the distillate is obtained, water is added and another set of herbs known as finish herbs are added, they include hyssop, melissa, and peppermint leaves. Two absinthe recipes are given below

Spanish absinthe:
Ingredients required.
Vodka or any neutral spirit 1.5 liters.
4gms of wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), 6gms of fennel seed, 8gms of green anise seeds, 2gms of angelica root, and 1gm of coriander are the herbs required for primary maceration. The herbs are all ground and soaked in the vodka and left in a cold dark place for a few days. During this time essential oils from the herbs gets discharged into the spirit. The container is periodically shaken. After a few days the mixture is filtered and 750 ml of water is added to it. After water is added the mixture is then distilled. The beginning and the end distillate is discarded and the remaining distillate is absinthe. Now finish herbs are added to the distillate 2gms of hyssop, and 3gms of melissa or lemon balm. The liquid is shaken periodically and left in a cool and dark place. After a few days the color of the absinthe turns green it is then filtered and all suspended particles removed and the absinthe is bottled.

Clear absinthe (Suisse La Bleue): in this type of absinthe the primary maceration procedure remains the same only the finish herbs are not added and the absinthe obtained is clear and colorless. The amount of neutral spirit is the same as Spanish absinthe only the quantity of the herbs is different. 4gms of wormwood, 6gms of fennel seed, 8gms of green anise, 4gms of star anise, 2gms of hyssop (this is used as a finish herb in Spanish absinthe), 2gms of angelica root and 3gms of peppermint leaves are added. The remaining procedure is the same only the last step of adding finish herbs is not required to get clear absinthe.

Well, these are just two recipes that we have mentioned different combination and quantity of herbs is required for French absinthe and Winston’s La Fee Verte. A note of caution absinthe has high alcohol content and it is advisable to consume it in moderation.

With a little bit of research you will find even more exciting absinthe recipes.

Absinthe is the legendary liquor that ruled the hearts and minds of most Europeans in the nineteenth century. Absinthe has wormwood and anise flavor. Absinthe was very popular because of its taste and the unique effects that were not similar to other spirits. The drink has made a stunning comeback all over the world since the beginning of the 21st century. More and more people are interested in knowing the perfect absinthe recipe. But before we discuss the absinthe recipe, let’s get acquainted with its rich history.

A French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire is credited with the creation of absinthe. The doctor prescribed it as a digestive tonic and used it to treat digestive disorders. Henri-Louis Pernod is credited with the first commercial production of absinthe in 1797 in Couvet, Switzerland. Later on in 1805 Pernod moved to a larger distillery as the demand for absinthe kept growing. Absinthe was the most popular drink in Europe and it rivaled wine, when at its peak. It has also appeared in the paintings of Pablo Picasso and Vincent Van Gogh. Many great artistes and writers were regular drinkers of absinthe and absinthe was an important part of the literary and cultural scene of nineteenth century Europe. Due to certain misconceptions and ill founded rumors absinthe was banned in most of Europe and America for most of the twentieth century. However, absinthe has made a successful comeback as most European countries have lifted the ban.

Absinthe recipe is fairy simple. It is prepared by steeping natural herbs in neutral spirit and distilling the product thus formed. Absinthe can be wine based or grain based. After distillation the distilled spirit is infused with more herbs for flavor and then filtered to obtain absinthe liquor. It is a three step recipe.

The first step involves procuring the neutral spirit. Wine can be distilled to increase the alcohol concentration. The simple alternative is to use vodka as it is readily available. The next step involves adding herbs like wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), green anise, fennel seed, angelica root, star anise, etc. These hers are called as macerated herbs. These herbs are mixed with the neutral spirit and kept in a dark cool place for several days. The container containing this mixture is shaken periodically. After a few days the mixture is strained and water is added. The volume of water added should be half of the amount of neutral spirit used.

The third step involves distilling the maceration. The distillation process is similar to the one used for home distilled alcohol. During the distillation the liquid that comes out at the beginning and the very end is discarded.

The last step involves adding herbs such as hyssop, melissa or lemon balm, and mint leaves. The mixture is periodically shaken and kept for some time. Once the color and flavor of the herbs gets into the mixture it is then filtered and bottled.

Absinthe has very high alcohol content and must be drunk in moderation. The herb wormwood contains thujone which is a mildly psychoactive substance and is believed to induce psychedelic effects if consumed in large quantity. Absinthe drinks are prepared using traditional rituals. Absinthe spoon and absinthe glass are used in the preparation of “the green fairy”, as absinthe is lovingly called. Like all drinks absinthe is an intoxicant and must be taken in moderation to enjoy its unique effects.

Since the ban on absinthe was in place for most part of the twentieth century. It was very difficult for absinthe lovers to experience the unique effects of pre-ban absinthe. However, since the beginning of this century most European countries have lifted the ban and absinthe is now accessible to lovers of fine liquor. With the phenomenal growth of the internet it is now possible to order your own favorite absinthe online. Absinthe kits have become very popular as you can now make your own absinthe at home in a week’s time. Absinthe kits contain absinthe essence, herbs, absinthe spoons, and detailed instructions.

Absinthe liquor is the legendary alcoholic drink made using herbs. The most common herb is wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium). For more than 200 years absinthe has had the privilege of being considered as an aphrodisiac and creativity stimulant. Both these properties of absinthe are still to be proved scientifically, however, absinthe popularity is due to its great taste. Absinthe is emerald green in color and very bitter to taste. Due to its bitter taste it is traditionally mixed with sugar and drunk. Elaborate traditional ritual is followed to prepare the absinthe drink.

Absinthe was very popular with great artists and writers in the nineteenth century. Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Oscar Wilde, Hemmingway and many others were followers of this drink also called as the green fairy. Henri-Louis Pernod is credited with commercial production of absinthe for the first time. Pernod’s absinthe recipe included herbs like wormwood, fennel, anise, angelica, juniper, hyssop, and nutmeg. The herb wormwood contains thujone which is a mild neurotoxin and is responsible for absinthe’s unique effects. Chlorophyll was also added to absinthe to give it the green hue. This green absinthe earned the nickname “LA Fee Verte” or the green fairy.

Absinthe is now available in Europe; however, it is still banned in the United States. Absinthe is very popular as base for cocktails the world over and hence the popularity of absinthe kits. With the absinthe kit making absinthe is far simpler and does not violate any local laws. The absinthe kits use a traditional method of making absinthe. All the necessary herbs are steeped in an alcoholic drink such as vodka, wine or neutral spirits (high proof) and kept for a few days. Afterwards the mixture is strained and absinthe is ready. You do not need a still to distill the drink. This is the most convenient way to make your own absinthe without breaking any law.

Absinthe kits contain
* Formulations of different strains of wormwood and wormwood extracts.
* Traditional and authentic formula of flavoring agents.
* Sugar cubes
* Cotton strainers
* Instructions on absinthe preparation and absinthe rituals.

So go order your absinthe kit from absinthekit.com and experience life’s greatest pleasure. Generally one kit makes about two liters of absinthe enough to keep a party of eight going till dawn.