Absinthe is strong alcoholic liquor made from alcohol and different types of herbs. The herbs are either distilled or herbal extracts are used to prepare absinthe. The main herbs used are wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), anise, melissa, hyssop, and fennel. Sometimes calamus and nutmeg were also used. Absinthe was invented at the end of the eighteenth century by a French doctor Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland. It was primarily used as a digestive tonic but soon its mystical effects made it the Numero Uno drink of nineteenth century Europe. It was lovingly called as the “Green Fairy “or “Green Muse”.

The word absinthe conjures up images of the grand cafés, the European masters, Moulin Rouge, Parisian theatres and all the other symbols of the Belle Époque. It was a common sight to find great number of people drinking absinthe in the French bars, cafés and bistros. Evening 5 p.m. was considered as the Green Hour or”Heure Verte”. Absinthe was at its peak popularity during the period 1880-1910; it was during this time that it rivaled wine. Description of Belle Époque French society would be incomplete without mentioning absinthe. No other country in Europe consumed absinthe is quantities comparable to France. Absinthe or the green fairy as it was called was considered an inspirational drink and many artists and writers who revolutionized art and literature in Europe attributed their creative genius to the absinthe green fairy.

So, what was it that made absinthe so special? Well, absinthe is not like any other drink. It contains a very high percentage of alcohol and extracts of herbs the main herb being wormwood. Wormwood contains thujone which is responsible for the unique effects of absinthe. Wormwood herb is closely related to the daisy family and grows in many areas of Europe. Thujone is a brain stimulant and its chemical structure is similar to THC or Tetrahydrocannabinol which is present in cannabis.

Absinthe that is carefully distilled by the finest distilleries is not very bitter. However, absinthe manufactured by some of the lesser known distilleries is extremely bitter. It has anise and this gives it the licorice taste. Absinthe also has a slight taste of citrus.

Absinthe is a very liberating drink and an evening with the Green Fairy thoroughly rejuvenates the mind and body. Absinthe drinking is a ritual and there are two types of rituals you can choose from to prepare your absinthe drink. The traditional French ritual and a modern Czech ritual made famous by the film “Moulin Rouge”. Some of the very famous absinthe drinkers included Vincent Van Gogh, August Strindberg, Arthur Richmond, Oscar Wilde, and Pablo Picasso.

No matter which ritual you choose to prepare your absinthe drink, apart from absinthe you will also need absinthe glass, and absinthe spoon. Absinthe spoons and glasses come in various styles and designs. A great deal of history and culture is associated with them. Some of the pre ban vintage absinthe, spoons and glasses command a hefty premium in the antique market.

For most of the twentieth century absinthe was banned in most of Europe and the United States. This was because of great misconceptions about absinthe that were in currency at that time. However, since the beginning of this century most European countries have lifted the unfair ban and absinthe is back with a bang. The internet has made it very easy for lovers of absinthe to find the best quality absinthe online.

You can order your favorite absinthe online from some of the most respected names in the industry. Buying absinthe and other absinthe products online is fairly simple and safe. Visit absinthekit.com and place your orders for genuine absinthe essence and prepare your own absinthe at home.

So, go and get your absinthe and spend a wonderful evening with the absinthe green fairy or the green goddess.

Absinthe glass is a very important component of the absinthe ritual along with absinthe spoon and other accessories. Before we discuss the various types and styles of absinthe glass, a brief introduction to absinthe is necessary.

Absinthe is legendary liquor with a lot of history and culture behind it. It was first invented by a French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland in 1797. It was considered a digestive tonic initially. The first absinthe distillery was started in Switzerland by Henri-Louis Pernod. However, in 1805 Pernod moved production to a bigger distillery in Pontarlier, France. Due to its unique effects absinthe became a very popular drink of the upper class in Europe and in the nineteenth century it rivaled wine in popularity. Initially, it was wine based; however, in 1870’s the destruction of vineyards forced distillers to use grain alcohol. This democratized absinthe and made it even more popular as the common man could now afford it. Absinthe was affectionately called the ‘Green Fairy’.

Absinthe is liquor made from herbs like green anise, fennel, Melissa, and wormwood. Wormwood contains a substance called thujone which is responsible for the special effects of absinthe. The herbs also contain essential oils which precipitate when ice cold water is added to absinthe. Absinthe was a favorite drink of very famous artists and writers of the twentieth century. Prominent names included Vincent Van Gogh and Oscar Wilde.

Absinthe drink is prepared in an elaborate ritual which also adds to its aura and mystique. Absinthe is not your everyday drink like whiskey or gin. Sugar has to be added along with ice-cold water to prepare the absinthe drink. There are two types of rituals, the traditional French ritual and the more modern Czech ritual. Both rituals require absinthe glass, absinthe spoon, sugar cube, and ice-cold water. The absinthe glass has a very special look, and it is larger than the normal water glass. The absinthe glass has an integrated reservoir at the bottom which is filled with absinthe.

The different types of absinthe glass are Swirl glass, Chope Yvonne glass, East glass, Cordon glass, and the Reservoir and Pontarlier glass.

The swirl glass is a standard café glass that was used in the nineteenth century. This type of glass was used for absinthe and other drinks. The swirl design is used as a mark for measuring the amount of absinthe. These types of glasses were used in the cafés of Europe till the beginning of the twentieth century.

Chope Yvonne glass is tall and narrow like present day mugs. It was used for drinking beer and absinthe. These glasses have a line etched to mark the absinthe dose.

East glass is a large Y shaped glass. It was named ‘East’ as it originated in the east of France. The dose mark is etched on the glass. This glass has a very wide mouth and a long “Les Cuilleres” type of spoon is required for the absinthe ritual.

Cordon glass is a rare type of absinthe glass it has a cordon around the lower part of the glass which acts a dose marker. These types of glasses are rare and original pieces from the nineteenth century command thousands of dollars a piece.

Reservoir and Pontarlier glass are around six inches high and have a reservoir at the bottom to hold the absinthe. These are also rare and collectors pay thousands of dollars for original pieces. The Pontarlier glass is a type of reservoir glass but it has a distinct outward swell. These glasses were made exclusively for drinking absinthe and its production stopped when absinthe was banned in Europe.

The common thing that these glasses had was that they were made from fine crystal and the louching effect of absinthe looked stunning in them. Absinthe spoons were also made in different styles and designs. The most famous design was the Eiffel tower design; it is the most sought absinthe spoon design.

The Green Fairy, or otherwise known as the alcoholic drink absinthe, is more then just a drink, it’s a movement. Its followers believe that by drinking absinthe your mind is opened up to new ideas, a clearer perception and an altered state of being that surpasses normalcy, due to these reasons it ahs been outlawed in more then one country.

What makes absinthe so different then other beverages is the compound thujone. Thujone is found in a variety of plants, but it is the densest in the herbal plant wormwood. Thujone is said to have mind altering effects that trigger creative abilities and a shift in sensory perception. Science has yet to find out the reason behind thujone’s mind bending effects.

In the nineteenth century the French gave absinthe’s it’s nickname, the Green Fairy, which means La Fee Verte in English. During that time famous poets like Arthur Rimbaud, and artists like Van Gough, and Pablo Picasso drank absinthe in a ritualistic manner, this drinking ritual was named La Louche. It was believed that during this ritual the true power of the Green Fairy, was released.

Arthur Rimbaud was known as the Green Fairy’s wild child, due to his rebellious lifestyle. He was a genius before his time, and used absinthe to liberate himself. Here is a portion of one of his poems regarding absinthe:

“When the poet’s pain is soothed by a liquid jewel held in the sacred chalice, upon which rests the pierced spoon, the crystal sweetness, icy streams trickle down. The darkest forest melts into an open meadow. Waves of green seduce. Sanity surrendered, the soul spirals toward the murky depths, wherein lies the beautiful madness – absinthe.”

The ritual begins with a bottle of absinthe, stilled ice water, sugar cube, glass and an absinthe spoon; the absinthe spoon is a slotted spoon that rests across the rim of the glass.

The first step in the ritual is to pour a shot of absinthe into a glass, for added effect try using something that looks antique. Take your absinthe spoon and lay it across the glass, then place a single sugar cube on it. Once your set up is ready slowly pour the iced water over the sugar cube. You will notice that the emerald green color of the absinthe will begin to transform into a milky light green shade. Absinthe drinkers believe that the transformation of the color of the absinthe is a preface to the transformation that will take place in your mind once you drink absinthe.

Make sure that the bottle of absinthe your using is in fact genuine. If you perform La Louche and your liquor doesn’t change color, you have a plain old bottle of alcohol with some herbs and food coloring. The true Green Fairy is illegal in some parts of the world, and used for enhancement in others, if you intend of diving into it’s depths you might have to travel a bit.

No drink in the history of mankind has been so vilified as absinthe. Absinthe has been shrouded in mystery mainly because of the wormwood component that is necessary to make absinthe. Absinthe, one of the finest of liquors ever made had been wrongfully banned for almost a century, is making a grand comeback in many European countries as more and more governments are once again legalizing absinthe. Recent new discoveries have proved rather conclusively that absinthe does not contain harmful levels of thujone.

Absinthe is made from several herbs, the main herbs being wormwood or Artemisia absinthium, anise, and fennel these three herbs are the primary herbs and are also referred as the “holy trinity”. A second group of herbs are used for enhancing absinthe’s taste and the last group of herbs is used for aroma and flavor. The taste enhancing herbs include calamus, hyssop, star anise, angelica and coriander. Herbs such as Roman wormwood, Melissa, Roman chamomile, veronica, and mint are used for adding color, aroma, and flavor.

Of all the herbs the most important is wormwood or grande wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Wormwood is the main constituent in absinthe that very much defines absinthe. It is bitter to taste and contains a chemical compound thujone, thujone is believed to be responsible for absinthe’s unique effects.

Wormwood is native to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia; however, it also grows in many parts of North America. Wormwood grown from the alpine slopes is considered to be the best. Ideally, the wormwood plant is harvested just before flowering as the thujone content in the plant is the highest at this time. Wormwood is known for its medicinal properties and has been used to treat several gastrointestinal ailments since ancient times. The wormwood plant was also used to stimulate appetite.

A French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire invented absinthe as a digestive tonic in the late eighteenth century. Absinthe had high alcohol content and soon became the favorite drink of Europeans. One of the reasons for its popularity was that it offered drinkers a clear headed inebriation unlike any other drink at that time. It was a very popular drink amongst writers and artists. However, due to some unsubstantiated rumors and misconceptions, prevalent during the temperance movement in Europe, absinthe was banned by most countries in Western Europe.

In the last decade of the twentieth century several studies conducted by various scientists conclusively proved that the thujone content in pre-ban absinthe was within tolerable limits. Since then several countries have legalized absinthe and it is now freely available in most European countries. The United States continues to ban absinthe and deprive its citizens the pleasure of tasting this fine liquor.

Fortunately for American citizens possession and consumption of absinthe is not a crime. US citizens can buy absinthe online from non-US manufacturers. The easiest way is to buy absinthe kits or absinthe essence online and prepare their very own absinthe. Absinthe accessories like absinthe glasses, spoons, absinthe fountains, and labels are also in great demand due to their historical significance.

Absinthekit.com is the best place on the net where you can get great deals on genuine absinthe essence, absinthe kits, and other absinthe accessories.

Absinthe the beloved drink of artists, intellectuals, and writers of nineteenth century Europe has made a terrific comeback as most countries in the Western World have now legalized the production and sale of absinthe. No drink in the history of modern man has received as many sobriquets as absinthe has. “The Green Fairy”, the “Green Muse” and “La Fee Verte” these are just a few sobriquets that this legendary yet controversial drink has been the recipient of.

Absinthe was the most popular drink of the nineteenth century Europe and had gained substantial following in the United States as well. It was invented by the French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire in 1792 in Switzerland and was initially used to treat various stomach ailments. Absinthe had very high alcohol content and contained extracts of several herbs like wormwood, anise, fennel, hyssop, angelica root, veronica, mint, coriander, calamus, star anise, and many other. The main ingredient was the herb wormwood; wormwood contains thujone a chemical that has mild toxic properties. Absinthe soon became a famous alcoholic beverage and separate distilleries were set up in France and other parts of Europe to distill this fine liquor. However, due to its high alcohol content and supposed unique effects, absinthe soon got a bad name. There was a massive campaign carried out during the temperance movement in Europe, and absinthe was so demonized that ultimately by the beginning of the twentieth century it was banned by most countries in Europe and United States. Thujone was blamed for absinthe effects such as insanity, hallucinations, and absinthism. Most countries passed laws that categorized absinthe as a psychoactive substance.

Fortunately in the last few years of the twentieth century, new research conducted by scientists using modern analytical tools conclusively proved that absinthe does not contain harmful levels of thujone. In the light of such new discoveries most European countries lifted the ban imposed on absinthe. Absinthe continues to be illegal in the United States and it is a crime to produce and sell absinthe with thujone content more than 10 parts per million. However, possession of absinthe is not a crime in the US.

United States permits the sale of two absinthes Lucid and Kubler, both absinthes are made using the traditional absinthe recipe and contain very little thujone. These absinthes have a high alcohol content and thujone level of 10 parts per million; however, this cannot be considered as true absinthe due to its low thujone content. These absinthe also come with a heavy price tag and a bottle would cost anywhere from $75 to $100. American absinthes are actually watered down versions of genuine Swiss and other European absinthes.

Americans who want to try genuine absinthe have an easier option of buying absinthe online from non-US producers; however, you will have to find a real good supplier who will deliver as promised. The best bet American citizens have is to buy genuine high quality absinthe essence and prepare their very own absinthe at home. Absinthe essence is prepared using traditional absinthe recipes. 20ml of absinthe essence when mixed with 730 ml of vodka or Everclear will make 750 ml of high quality absinthe.

There are several websites selling absinthe kits and essence on the internet. The most trusted name is absinthekit.com; absinthekit.com specializes in absinthe essence, absinthe kits, absinthe artifacts such as spoons, glasses, absinthe labels, and other absinthe accessories.