Absinthe is a hot topic at the moment with it being newly legalized in the United States. It is also seen as a trendy drink popular with celebrities. Johnny Depp is an Absinthe drinker as is Marilyn Manson who has actually created his own brand, Mansinthe and said he wrote and recorded a whole album with the help of Absinthe as his muse. Absinthe has also featured in many films – From Hell, Alfie and the infamous Moulin Rouge where we see Ewan McGregor’s character’s hallucinations and intoxicated view of the Moulin Rouge and the Green Fairy. So, does Absinthe make you trip or hallucinate and how long does Absinthe take to work?

Absinthe was banned in the early 1900s because of its alleged danger to health. We all know about Van Gogh cutting his ear off and committing suicide, apparently under the influence of Absinthe, but Absinthe was being blamed for insanity, a condition called “Absinthism” and even murder. Why?

Absinthe grew from being used as a medicinal elixir in the late 18th century to being a hugely popular drink in France in th 19th century. In fact, by the turn of the 20th century the French were consuming 36 million liters of the Green Fairy and bars had special Absinthe hours.

Absinthe’s key ingredient was, and is, the herb wormwood which has been used in medicine since ancient times. However, wormwood contains a chemical called thujone which, in large doses, can cause convulsions, spasms and kidney failure. The French medical profession thought that thujone was similar to THC in cannabis and claimed that Absinthe was not only an intoxicant but that it was also a dangerous hallucinogen which eventually caused insanity, brain damage and death. The symptoms of Absinthism, prolonged drinking of Absinthe, were cited as:-

– Convulsions
– Delirium
– Hypersensitivity to pain
– Loss of libido
– Insanity
– Paralysis
– Death

The medical profession and prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe contained very large amounts of thujone and that it would drive the whole French population insane. Governments in many countries were worrying about Absinthe and Absinthe was banned in the US in 1912 and in France in 1915.

Absinthe has now been legalized in many countries around the world and many distillers are using traditional methods of distillation and original recipes to make pre ban style Absinthe.

So, how long does Absinthe take to work?

Well, if you are drinking Absinthe to hallucinate, then you are going to be very disappointed. Absinthe does not contain enough thujone to cause any psychedelic effects and you would die of alcohol poisoning before consuming enough thujone to affect you. Even vintage Absinthe only contained trace amounts, according to tests carried out by distiller Ted Breaux and by a food safety group for the German government. Both Breaux and the German group carried out extensive tests on premium pre ban Absinthe and came to the conclusion that Absinthe is no more harmful than any of the other strong spirits.

Absinthe is a very strong liquor, up to 150 proof (75% alcohol by volume), so it will get you drunk very quickly and the mysterious blend of herbs used in its recipe will give you a very different kind of drunkenness. The sedative effect of the alcohol and the stimulating effect of some of the herbs make for a strange “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness.

Make sure that you buy a quality Absinthe containing wormwood to give you that taste of real vintage style Absinthe. You can even make your own by using essences from AbsintheKit.com.

How long does Absinthe take to work to get you drunk? This depends on you, your body, how strong the Absinthe is and your alcohol tolerance. Even the first glass can make your tongue tingle and can go straight to your head!

There is much controversy and debate over how the word “Absinthe” is pronounced. It’s something you need to know if you’re going to order it in a bar or discuss it with people you want to impress. So, how do you pronounce Absinthe?

How Do You Pronounce Absinthe and other Absinthe Words?

“Absinthe” – Absinthe was an incredibly popular drink in France in the 19th century and early 20th century so the French should be able to pronounce it. It was THE drink of La Belle Epqoque period and even became more popular than wine before its ban in 1915.

The word “Absinthe”, the name for wormwood (artemisia absinthium) was also used as the name of a Summer day in the old French Republican Calendar. This calendar was used in France from 1793 until its abolition from 1st January 1806 by Napoleon. The calendar began at the Autumn equinox and was made up of 12 months of 30 days. Each month was then divided into 3 “weeks” which were actually made up of 10 days each. Days were named after animals, tools or plants and minerals and the names of months were based on Nature.

So, “Absinthe” is a well known word in French and is pronounced “ahb-sant”.

The English tend to pronounce it Ab-sinth like the synth in “photosynthesis”. Some people have been known to pronounce it ab-sint or even, according to wikipedia, as ab-sin-thay!

Absinthe does have many different spellings or variations. The French or Swiss spelling is “Absinthe” but in the Czech Republic it is often spelled “Absinth”. “Absinth” sometimes refers to wormwood bitters which do not contain anise. In Spain, Absinthe is known as “Absenta”, in Italy as “assenzio” and sometimes it is spelled with a “y” – Absynthe.

How Do You Pronounce Absinthe Words

There is also much debate on how to pronounce the word “louche” and what it actually means. “Louche” is a French word and is correctly pronounced “loosh”, although many have been heard saying “louch” as in “couch”! It comes from the French for shady and refers to the milky or cloudy opalescence which is seen when water is added to Absinthe. The drink turns from a transparent green (or clear if you have a La Bleue) to a milky pale green or white. Only good quality Absinthe rich in natural essential oils will louche because the louche is caused by the oils, that were soluble in the alcohol, being “freed” from the alcohol and not being soluble in the water.

“Fee Verte” is also not pronounced correctly by many people. La Fee Verte is the French name for the Green Fairy which is another name for Absinthe. La Fee Verte was muse to many artists and writers who dosed themselves up with Absinthe. “La Fee Verte” is pronounced LA FAY VAIRT.

Thujone is another word that people don’t know how to say. Thujone is the chemical found in worwmood that was once compared to THC in the drug cannabis. Some people say THOO-YONE (as in “own”), others say THOO-HONE but the correct pronunciation seems to be THOO-JOAN as in the name Joan.

So, now you know the answer to the question “How do you pronounce Absinthe” and can surprise your friends with your Absinthe knowledge!

Many people see the price of bottles of Absinthe (up to $100 or more) and understandably want to know if there is a way to make their own Absinthe. So, what does the art of making Absinthe involve? How do you make Absinthe?

You can buy kits online from various suppliers to make your very own Green Fairy from a recipe at home. Some kits provide you with Absinthe herbs such as wormwood, aniseed, fennel, anise, hyssop, lemon balm, calamus, juniper and other classic Absinthe ingredients. You then have to either steep the herbal ingrediants for a few days, use a two step steeping process or mix the herbs with a neutral alcoholic base such as vodka and filter after a few days.

The problem with these kits is that you don’t really get real Absinthe, you are not using distillation. Also some of these kits may contain herbs that are actually dangerous. One steeping kit online claims to make an Absinthe with 80-90mg of thujone in it – much more thujone than commercial brands of Absinthe. Thujone is the active chemical found in Artemisia Absinthium, Common Wormwood.

You need to be careful when using herbs and essential oils at home. Many herbs are perfectly safe when used in small doses and can be beneficial to our health. However, those same herbs in large doses can be harmful and even toxic.

How Do You Make Absinthe With Essences

AbsintheKit.com sell Absinthe essences which are made from the traditional herbs and essential oils – aniseed, fennel and wormwood. These essences are manufactured using high tech carbon dioxide distillation and top-quality herbs and are the same essences that they sell to the Absinthe industry. You can therefore be assured that they are safe and will make proper real Absinthe. You can either buy a 20ml bottle of essence for $3.95 or $4.95 which is enough to make a 750ml bottle of Absinthe, or you can buy an AbsintheKit which contains 280ml of essence to make 14 bottles of Absinthe, a plastic measure and artistic labels to decorate and label your finished Absinthe bottles. Kits cost either $29 or $39 depending on your chosen Absinthe essence.

There is no need to follow complicated recipes, the hard work has been done for you. Simply mix 20ml of essence with 730ml of Everclear or Vodka, add sugar if you want a smoother Absinthe, shake and then enjoy the perfect Absinthe!

AbsintheKit make 4 different essences:-

– Absinthe Classics Essence – This essence will make a classic green Absinthe, the Absinthe enjoyed by devotees like Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Oscar Wilde. A finished 750ml bottle of this Absinthe will contain 35mg of thujone.

– Orange Absinthe – This essence makes a yellow-orange colored Absinthe with the lovely flavor of natural orange oil. This also makes a bottle with a 35mg thujone content.

– White Absinthe – This essence makes a Blanche or La Bleue, Swiss style, clear Absinthe just like the bootleg clandestine Absinthes made during the ban. A 750ml bottle of Absinthe will contain 35mg of thujone.

– Absinthe 55 Strong – For those who like a dark green Absinthe with a stronger, more bitter taste. This essence contains more wormwood and will make an Absinthe with a 55mg thujone content.

So, how do you make Absinthe at home? The best and easiest way is to use essences from AbsintheKit.com.

Due to the fact that Absinthe was illegal for decades, over 90 years in the United States, many people simply do not know how to prepare Absinthe and are asking “How do you drink Absinthe?”.

Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is high proof and which is flavored with natural herbs. Herbal ingredients include wormwood, fennel and green aniseed. It is approximately twice as strong as other spirits such as whisky and vodka. In the past it was thought to be similar to cannabis and to cause hallucinations. It does not, that is a complete myth and Absinthe is perfectly safe to drink.

Absinthe can be used in cocktails. Ernest Hemingway invented “Death in the Afternoon” which was Absinthe mixed with champagne – very decadent! But the usual and traditional way of preparing Absinthe is to dilute it with iced water.

How do you drink Absinthe using the Ritual?

The Ritual is the method or art of preparing Absinthe that was used in France and Switzerland during La Belle Epoque period when Absinthe was in its heyday.

The basics you will need for the Ritual are:-

– Absinthe – A good quality Absinthe containing wormwood. AbsintheKit.com sell real wormwood Absinthe essences to make your very own top-quality Absinthe.
– An Absinthe glass or large glass.
– A slotted or perforated Absinthe spoon.
– A sugar cube.
– A carafe of iced water or an Absinthe fountain containing iced water.

Pour a shot of Absinthe into the Absinthe glass.
Rest the spoon on the rim of the glass and place the sugar on the slotted part.
Slowly drip the water over the sugar and into the Absinthe. A steady hand is essential for this or a fountain can help to control the flow of the water.

As the water mixes into the Absinthe you will see the Absinthe louche or turn cloudy – this is great to watch and is part of the true Absinthe experience.

How do you drink Absinthe using the modern Bohemian method or Czech method?

For this method you will need the same equipment as the Ritual but you will also need a lighter or a match.

Pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass and dip the sugar cube into the alcohol soaking it.
Place the sugar on the spoon over the glass and set it alight.
Watch the sugar caramelize and melt into the Absinthe. Be careful – the Absinthe may catch fire which is a bit of a waste of good Absinthe so only use cheap Absinthe.
Slowly pour the iced water into the Absinthe and stir with the spoon.
Enjoy your Bohemian Absinthe.

The Bohemian or Czech method is a modern method and is not really recognized by the Absinthe world but it makes a change.

The ratio of water to Absinthe depends on your taste but is usually 3:1 to 5:1.

Absinthe Shots

“How big is a shot of Absinthe?” you may ask. Well, a shot is generally understood to be 1.5 ounces or 44.36ml if liquor. Google have got a great online calculator to enable you to easily work out how many shots your bottle of Absinthe contains, much easier than using Zlotnian calculators! You can just type in things like “shots in 750ml” into a Google search and it will give you the answer.

I hope that this information has answered the question “How do you drink Absinthe?”. You can also search online for Absinthe cocktail recipes or make your own up.

Due to the fact that Absinthe was illegal for decades, over 90 years in the United States, many people simply do not know how to prepare Absinthe and are asking “How do you drink Absinthe?”.

Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is high proof and which is flavored with natural herbs. Herbal ingredients include wormwood, fennel and green aniseed. It is approximately twice as strong as other spirits such as whisky and vodka. In the past it was thought to be similar to cannabis and to cause hallucinations. It does not, that is a complete myth and Absinthe is perfectly safe to drink.

Absinthe can be used in cocktails. Ernest Hemingway invented “Death in the Afternoon” which was Absinthe mixed with champagne – very decadent! But the usual and traditional way of preparing Absinthe is to dilute it with iced water.

How do you drink Absinthe using the Ritual?

The Ritual is the method or art of preparing Absinthe that was used in France and Switzerland during La Belle Epoque period when Absinthe was in its heyday.

The basics you will need for the Ritual are:-

– Absinthe – A good quality Absinthe containing wormwood. AbsintheKit.com sell real wormwood Absinthe essences to make your very own top-quality Absinthe.
– An Absinthe glass or large glass.
– A slotted or perforated Absinthe spoon.
– A sugar cube.
– A carafe of iced water or an Absinthe fountain containing iced water.

Pour a shot of Absinthe into the Absinthe glass.
Rest the spoon on the rim of the glass and place the sugar on the slotted part.
Slowly drip the water over the sugar and into the Absinthe. A steady hand is essential for this or a fountain can help to control the flow of the water.

As the water mixes into the Absinthe you will see the Absinthe louche or turn cloudy – this is great to watch and is part of the true Absinthe experience.

How do you drink Absinthe using the modern Bohemian method or Czech method?

For this method you will need the same equipment as the Ritual but you will also need a lighter or a match.

Pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass and dip the sugar cube into the alcohol soaking it.
Place the sugar on the spoon over the glass and set it alight.
Watch the sugar caramelize and melt into the Absinthe. Be careful – the Absinthe may catch fire which is a bit of a waste of good Absinthe so only use cheap Absinthe.
Slowly pour the iced water into the Absinthe and stir with the spoon.
Enjoy your Bohemian Absinthe.

The Bohemian or Czech method is a modern method and is not really recognized by the Absinthe world but it makes a change.

The ratio of water to Absinthe depends on your taste but is usually 3:1 to 5:1.

Absinthe Shots

“How big is a shot of Absinthe?” you may ask. Well, a shot is generally understood to be 1.5 ounces or 44.36ml if liquor. Google have got a great online calculator to enable you to easily work out how many shots your bottle of Absinthe contains, much easier than using Zlotnian calculators! You can just type in things like “shots in 750ml” into a Google search and it will give you the answer.

I hope that this information has answered the question “How do you drink Absinthe?”. You can also search online for Absinthe cocktail recipes or make your own up.

Most people have heard of the mythical green, anise flavored liquor known as Absinthe or the Green Fairy but they do not have a clue how Absinthe is made.

Absinthe was created by the legendary Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Switzerland in the late 18th century but it wasn’t until Pernod started making it at the turn of the 19th century that it became a popular alcoholic beverage. During La Belle Epoque it was even more popular than other spirits and wine. It was famously banned in the early 1900s due to worries about its thujone content.

Thujone, a chemical in wormwood, was thought to be psychoactive and to cause psychedelic effects but recent studies show that Absinthe only contains small amounts of thujone and is perfectly safe. Absinthe is now legal in many countries and it has been possible and legal to buy some brands of Absinthe in the United States since 2007. Before that date many Americans risked having Absinthe shipped from Europe.

Absinthe is served diluted with iced water and the essential oils in the Absinthe cause it to louche once water is added.

How Absinthe is Made

Here is a step by step description of the Absinthe making process which was used by vintage Absinthe distillers and is still used today:-

Growing of Absinthe herbs

Distillers like Pernod liked to grown their own herbs so that they could be assured of the quality of the herbs used in their Absinthe and this is still the case today. Grande wormwood (artemisia absinthium), petite wormwood (artemisia pontica), lemon balm and hyssop are all grown in Pontarlier France where the Pernod distillery is located. Florence fennel comes from Florence in Italy and green aniseed is grown in parts of Southern France and Spain. These herbs are traditional Absinthe herbs.

Herb Selection and Preparation

Only the best quality herbs are used by distillers who prepare them by crushing or grinding them.

Maceration

A recipe of herbs is macerated in a base alcohol which is diluted with water. The herbs are generally left to macerate for one night in an alambic pot and then more water is added before distillation.

Distillation

The mixture is heated to the appropriate distillation temperature and sometimes rectifying balls are used. These balls are cooled with water which allows vapors from the mixture to condense and return to the pot.
Distillate is collected, it is clear in color. The used herbs are removed from the pot and the alambic is cleaned for its next use.

Coloring

A portion of the distillate is put into an alambic with herbs such as lemon balm, petite wormwood and hyssop. The mixture is then heated to about 55 degrees celsius and then cooled and filtered. This green liquid is then checked and tested before being reunited with the rest of the distillate.

Checking

The Absinthe is checked for the quality of its louche, color and taste and is then left to age for a few months before bottling.

La Bleue Absinthe is clear Absinthe which is made without the coloring step.

You can make Absinthe at home yourself by using special distilled Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. Simply mix an essence with vodka or Everclear to make a real herbal Asbinthe. That is how Absinthe is made simply and easily at home.

How to make absinthe? This is one question that is being asked by connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages more often these days as there is heightened interest in absinthe. The reason is fairly simple to understand, absinthe has made a dramatic comeback after being banned for almost a century.

There are two ways you can answer the question, how to make absinthe? One way would be explaining how to prepare an absinthe drink and the other would be how to prepare the liquor absinthe. In this article we will discuss how to prepare the liquor using traditional a recipe and herbs.

Absinthe is made using different alpine herbs including wormwood or Artemisia absinthium. Absinthe was originally used as a bitter digestive tonic. Good quality absinthe is made by soaking wormwood and other herbs in alcohol and then distilling the solution. Wormwood contains thujone which is the active ingredient in absinthe and gives absinthe its bitter taste.

The ingredients required to make absinthe are 750 ml of vodka or any neutral spirit, herbs such as wormwood, hyssop, fennel seed, anise seed, angelica root, lemon balm, veronica, sage, coriander, mint, thyme and cardamom. To prepare green absinthe coriander and mint are used while to prepare red absinthe green herbs are excluded and red herbs such as paprika are used.

Depending on the color of absinthe desired; ground all the herbs finely and place in a cup. Fine grounding of herbs results in efficient extraction of herbal constituents. The finely ground herbal mixture is added to vodka or any other neutral spirit and placed in a jar and sealed.

The bottle or jar is then stored in cold and dark place for up to two months. The longer you keep the greater is the infusion of herbs in the solution. This process is called as maceration. The duration of maceration will also influence the flavor of the final product.

After the mixture is kept for two months, it is then removed and strained. The strained liquid will be brown in color and very bitter. This liquid is then distilled to reduce the bitterness and give it a clear hue. This liquid is called as the “absinthe blanche”. Now you may add other flavoring and coloring herbs such as hyssop, mint and coriander if you want a green absinthe or paprika if you want a red absinthe. This second maceration gives the absinthe its final flavor and color.

While mixing the distillate with flavoring herbs you should further dilute the absinthe with vodka. Keep for a fortnight and your absinthe is ready.

Absinthe should be enjoyed using the traditional ritual. Absinthe is the only liquor that needs an elaborate ritual using special absinthe spoon, absinthe glass, sugar cube, ice cold water, and absinthe fountain.

You can make your own absinthe by a much easier method than the one mentioned above. Just buy genuine absinthe essence that is made using traditional absinthe recipe and mix it with vodka or any other neutral spirit, and your absinthe is ready to serve. Absinthekit.com is a very trusted name from where you can source genuine absinthe essences of various strengths.

Visit absinthekit.com for more information on absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories such as absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses and absinthe labels.

Absinthe is the legendary liquor of nineteenth and early twentieth century Europe. It was a drink that was favored by great artists and intellectuals before being banned by most countries for most of the twentieth century. Absinthe or the “Green Fairy” has made a terrific comeback since most countries have now lifted the ban in the wake of new discoveries that proved it does not contain substances that are harmful to humans. Since the lifting of the ban great deal of interest has been generated in the drink and the elaborate serving ritual. In this article we will see how to drink absinthe following two traditional rituals.

Absinthe is anise flavored bitter liquor made from several alpine herbs. Wormwood or Artemisia absinthium is the main herb used in its preparation. Wormwood contains thujone a chemical that is widely believed to produce effects similar to cannabis. However, new research has proved that the effects of thujone are largely overstated. Absinthe was very popular amongst great painters and writers, some famous names included Vincent van Gogh, Ernest Hemmingway, Pablo Picasso, and Oscar Wilde.

Absinthe is not like any other spirit and an elaborate ritual is followed in its preparation. Traditional French and Czech rituals are the two most followed rituals used when serving absinthe.

The traditional French ritual requires a bottle of absinthe, absinthe spoon, absinthe fountain, sugar cube, absinthe glass, and ice cold water. A shot of absinthe (1.5 ounces) is poured in a special absinthe glass. An absinthe slotted or perforated spoon is placed over the glass and a sugar cube placed over it. Ice cold water is slowly dripped over the sugar cube from an absinthe fountain. As the water drips over the sugar cube it dissolves the sugar and falls in the glass. Once the sugar has completely dissolved some more ice water is added in the glass to further dilute the absinthe. Generally two parts of water to one part of absinthe is used. As absinthe gets diluted it turns cloudy white or opaque, this is called the louche effect. This happens as the essential oils from herbs contained in absinthe precipitate. The absinthe is now ready to be served.

The Czech ritual is more modern and more fun. One shot of absinthe (1.5 ounces) is poured in absinthe glass and absinthe spoon is placed on the glass with a sugar cube. The sugar cube and the spoon is then dipped in absinthe and withdrawn. The absinthe soaked sugar cube is then lighted with a lighter. As the flames engulf the sugar cube it caramelizes. The spoon is then dipped in the glass and ice cold water is added to further dilute the absinthe. As water is added the absinthe turns opaque white due to louche effect. The drink is then served.

A note of caution, absinthe has high alcohol content (about 140-proof) and should be consumed in moderation. The best way to drink absinthe is to sip it slowly to experience the subtle and unique effects of the herbs.

Special absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses, and absinthe fountains add to the aura and mystique of absinthe. You can buy absinthe and absinthe accessories from several online stores. Some of the best absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories are available on absinthekit.com, one of the most trusted sites dealing in absinthe and related products.

The effects of Absinthe are infamous. Ask anyone about Absinthe and they will remember Absinthe as the green liquor that was famously banned around the world because it drove people to insanity. Many of these people have never tried Asbinthe and cannot comment from personal experience.

Absinthe was originally developed as an elixir or tonic by a doctor in the Swiss town of Couvet. Dr Ordinaire made it out of a selection of herbs known for their medicinal properties. His recipe finally got into the hands of Henri-Louis Pernod who made Absinthe from a wine base and added herbal ingredients such as aniseed, wormwood, hyssop, fennel, star anise, angelica root, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper and dittany. Other manufacturers used different types of herbs in addition to Pernod’s recipe, herbs such as calamus root and mint.

The Green Fairy, or Absinthe, was given to French soldiers in the 1840s to treat malaria and became popular with the troops who brought it back home with them where it grew very popular in bars in France. Some bars even had Absinthe hours – L’heure vert – the green hour.

The Absinthe Ritual was an important part of the enjoyment of drinking Absinthe. Absinthe was served in bars in special Absinthe glasses with an Absinthe spoon, a sugar cube and iced water. The barman or waiter would use a carafe or fountain to drip the water over the sugar on the spoon and the customer would watch the Absinthe louche as the water mixed with the liquor.

Absinthe became a popular drink amongst the artists and writers of the Bohemian part of Paris – Montmartre. Artists and writers, such as Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Degas, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Oscar Wilde and Gauguin, all claimed that Absinthe gave them their genius and inspiration. Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers are featured in many works of art such as Albert Maignan’s “Green Muse” from 1895 showing an Absinthe drinker with a fairy (the green fairy) and Degas’ “L’Absinthe” from 1876.

Oscar Wilde wrote “After the first glass of Absinthe you see things as you wish they were. After the second you see them as they are not. Finally, you see things as they really are, and that is the most horrible thing in the world.”

Others have described the effects of drinking Absinthe as a “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness and this could be because Absinthe contains both sedatives and stimulants.

Effects of Absinthe and the Ban

Absinthe was famously banned in France in 1915 and many other countries around the world also banned it. The prohibition campaigners had managed to convince the French government that Absinthe would bring about the country’s downfall and that prolonged drinking of Absinthe, Absinthism, caused the following effects:-

– Hallucinations
– Hyper excitability
– Weakening of the intellect
– Insanity
– Brain damage
– Violence

The chemical thujone, found in one of the vital ingredients of absinthe, wormwood, was thought to be like THC in the drug cannabis. Thujone was alleged to be a neurotoxin, to be psychoactive and to cause psychedelic effects. The wormwood in Absinthe was blamed for Van Gogh’s suicide and for a man murdering his family.

Many studies have shown that thujone has to be consumed in large amounts to cause such nasty effects and when Ted Breaux, Absinthe manufacturer and creator of the “Lucid” brand, tested bottles of vintage pre-ban Absinthe he found that Absinthe only contained minute amounts of thujone. Absinthe has therefore been legalized in many countries now.

Absinthe is mainly alcohol and is a very strong spirit, about twice as strong as other types of spirits such as whisky and vodka. It would therefore be pretty much impossible to ingest a large amount of thujone as you would not be able to consume that much alcohol and still be able to drink!

The effects of Absinthe are really just stories, part of the myth and legend that surrounds this glorious drink. Try some yourself by ordering a bottle of real wormwood Absinthe online or by making your own by using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com.

Absinthe the fascinating liquor with a lot of history and romantic connections to nineteenth century art world is back after being banned for almost a hundred years. Absinthe, a drink in a class of its own has aroused a great deal of interest and it is common to hear many versions about absinthe’s unique effects. The effects of absinthe are different for different people. However, one common experience that absinthe drinkers report is a unique clear headed form of drunkenness.

Absinthe is made using several herbs, the most important being wormwood or Artemisia absinthium. Absinthe also has very high alcohol content. It is widely believed that thujone a naturally occurring substance in wormwood is responsible for absinthes unique effects. It was widely believed that thujone was responsible for inducing effects similar to cannabis. This belief was based solely on the fact that thujone’s chemical structure is similar to THC a compound found in cannabis, however, new research have proved that the effects of thujone are grossly overstated.

Absinthe’s unique effects cannot be explained precisely, but it could be the result of several herbs that are used in its preparation. Different people have reported different effects. Perhaps the reason why absinthe was so famously endorsed by great artists and intellectuals was because of its so called mysterious effects. Absinthe was wrongly labeled as a narcotic in the beginning of the twentieth century and banned by almost all countries in west Europe and the United States.

Genuine absinthe causes no more than a mild buzz and heightens the clarity of mind and vision. The effects of absinthe do not last long and start wearing off after about half an hour of drinking it. There are numerous stories doing the rounds of cocktail circuits that suggest absinthe is able to influence the subconscious mind and take it to a different level of awareness.

Some of the effects can be explained by the fact that thujone is a neurotoxin and when consumed in a small quantity acts as a creative stimulant. Thujone and other ingredients from different herbs present in absinthe remove mental blocks thus increasing our cognitive and perceptive abilities. It is no wonder that great masters of the nineteenth century attributed their creative genius to absinthe’s unique effects. It was fondly nicknamed as the “Green Fairy” or “Green Muse”.

Today most European countries have lifted the ban imposed on absinthe and it is once again produced and marketed in Europe. The United States continues to ban the production and sale of absinthe; however, the possession and consumption of absinthe is not illegal in the US. Absinthe should be drunk for its taste and not for its supposed effects. This anise flavored liquor is one of the finest and comes with a great deal of history and culture attached to it.

US citizens can buy absinthe online from non-US producers or order absinthe essence and make their very own absinthe at home. Mixing genuine high quality absinthe essence in vodka or any other neutral spirit is the best and easiest way to make your very own absinthe.

So if you want to spend an evening flirting with the “Green Fairy” visit abisnthekit.com and order genuine absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories.