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.

Many people have heard that Absinthe is different, that it’s not like other alcoholic beverages. By why is this? How is it different? What does Absinthe do?

Absinthe, also known as the Green Fairy, is a wonderful anise flavored liquor which is made from distilling alcohol with a recipe of herbs including wormwood, fennel and aniseed. The wormwood (artemisia asbinthium) is the herb that gives Absinthe its name and its characteristic slight bitter taste. Wormwood is also the reason why Absinthe was banned in the early 1900s.

The medical profession and the prohibition movement, in the late 19th century and early 20th century, were determined to get Absinthe banned. They claimed that Absinthe contained large amounts of thujone, a chemical found in wormwood, and that thujone was like THC in cannabis. They claimed that Absinthe caused psychedelic effects such as hallucinations and that made people addicted to Absinthe and drove them to insanity. It was even alleged that Absinthe caused a man to murder his family.

Absinthe was eventually banned in many countries in the early 1900s because governments believed that Absinthe was a danger. In countries where it was illegal, Absinthe could not be bought, sold or served. If people wanted Absinthe, they either had to get it shipped from abroad or buy bootleg clandestine Absinthe. Bootleggers in Switzerland distilled clear, or La Bleue, Absinthes so that people did not see that it was Absinthe.

So, is Absinthe dangerous? Does it cause hallucinations? What does Absinthe do?

We now know that Absinthe is just as safe as any strong spirit. Test and studies on vintage Absinthe have shown that Absinthe did not contain large amounts of thujone, only very small amounts, and that it could not possibly cause hallucinations. Ted Breaux, an Absinthe distiller who tested vintage bottles of Absinthe, found that pre ban Absinthe only contained a maximum of 6mg/kg of thujone. Absinthe with up to 10mg/kg of thujone is now legal in the EU and US but as Ted Breaux says “I would have to consume about three liters of Absinthe at the European limit to have any clinically discernible effects from thujone, and I’d be long dead from the alcohol by that point.”

Of course, Absinthe is an incredibly strong liquor, about twice the strength of whisky or vodka, so it will get you drunk easily! The drunkenness from Absinthe is said to be a strange “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness where your mind is freed and your senses are heightened – curious!

The difference between Absinthe and other beverages is the preparation involved in serving the perfect Absinthe. The traditional method of preparing the drink is called “The Ritual”. Follow this guide to make the perfect Absinthe:-

– Buy a good quality Absinthe containing wormwood from a shop or make your own using essences from AbsintheKit.com.
– Pour a shot of Absinthe into an Absinthe glass.
– Place a sugar lump or cube onto a slotted Absinthe spoon.
– Drip iced water over the sugar so that the sugar dissolves into the Absinthe.
– Watch the Absinthe louche as the essential oils of the herbs come out of the alcohol and cause the mixture to cloud and go milky.
– Stir and serve.
A ratio of 3:1 to 5:1 water to Absinthe is the recommended dilution.
Enjoy your drink of the Green Fairy.

So, what does Absinthe do? Well, it isn’t dangerous and it doesn’t cause hallucinations but it can make you drunk, a weird drunkenness, and it’s a drink that louches when diluted. That’s what Absinthe does.

Gone are the days when Absinthe was thought to cause hallucinations, people these days just drink it as part of an active nightlife. Although it contains a chemical called thujone, Absinthe will not cause psychedelic effects and cannot be compared to cannabis, LSD and other drugs. The drink of the Green Fairy will not make you see fairies and will not make you think that you can fly, whatever the likes of rock musicians, artists and writers say. So, what does a Absinthe buzz feel like?

What does a Absinthe buzz feel like?

Here are some answers. This is a list of descriptions of the Absinthe buzz according to Absinthe drinkers:-
– The first sip of Absinthe makes your tongue tingle and then go numb.
– Absinthe opens your mind to new ideas and concepts.
– Absinthe gives you heightened awareness.
– A “clear headed” drunkenness, clarity, lucidity.
– A drunkenness without a loss of control.
– “Brain-warming, idea-changing liquid alchemy” – Ernest Hemingway.
– The effect of “illuminating the mind” – French doctor 1872.
– “The darkest forest melts into an open meadow” Arthur Rimbaud explaining the effects of drinking a glass of Absinthe.
– Heightened senses.
– The feeling that it evaporates through the roof of your mouth.

Absinthe is unlike any other alcoholic beverage because it is a herbal liquor. Its unique blend of herbs with high proof alcohol mean that it is a curious mixture of sedatives and stimulants. Many people comment that they do not have a hangover after getting drunk on Absinthe.

Absinthe was banned in the early 1900s in many countries because it was thought to be dangerous. The prohibition movement, wine producers and the medical profession all claimed that Absinthe was like a drug and that it made people hallucinate and drove them to insanity. Thujone, the chemical found in wormwood, was blamed. Thujone was said to be similar to THC in cannabis and to be psychoactive and to cause psychedelic effects. We now know that thujone is not like THC and, although thujone can cause convulsions and spasms when ingested in large amounts, Absinthe only contains very small amounts of thujone – not enough to have any effect whatsoever.

Thujone levels in commercial Absinthe is controlled in most countries. The EU limit thujone levels to up to 10mg/kg in alcohol with an abv of over 25% and to up to 35mg/kg in “bitters”. The USA requires beverages to be “thujone free” but this just means containing less than 10mg/kg of thujone.

Some people argue that Absinthe is dangerous, after all, the news that Absinthe is safe seems to be coming from the distillers. Isn’t this just like Al Gore’s speech in 2000 about the dangers of drugs but not even mentioning the dangers of alcohol, which many people feel wasn’t mentioned because the alcohol industry fund political campaigns. Should we really believe Ted Breaux, distiller of Lucid, who claims that even pre ban Absinthe contained only trace amounts of thujone? Is Absinthe really safe or will it give me more than a buzz and drive me insane?

The answer to these questions is that Absinthe IS safe. In 2005 a German food safety group tested pre ban Absinthe and came up with the same results as Breaux. Absinthe was vindicated. Absinthe is intoxicating and will give you a different intoxication than you get from other alcohol, but it is not a drug.

What does an Absinthe buzz feel like? Most people agree that it heightens the senses and gives you a clarity of mind. Find out for yourself by drinking best quality bottled Absinthe or by making your own from essences like those from AbsintheKit.com. Just don’t overdo it!

In this time of Absinthe revival, most countrys permit Absinthe to be bought and sold. Even in countries like Ireland, where Absinthe is banned, you can still purchase it online from abroad and get it shipped for your own personal consumption, it is perfectly legal to order it this way.

Companies like AbsintheKit.com sell their Absinthe essences worldwide so that people can make their own Absinthe at home. These essences are great because they are already distilled and all you have to do is mix them with vodka or Everclear. Brilliant for people in countries where Absinthe is illegal or hard to find.

Absinthe is an anise flavored liquor which is made from natural herbs including aniseed, fennel and wormwood. Wormwood contains a chemical called thujone which, in the late 19th century, was thought to be like THC in cannabis. Absinthe was banned in many countries in the early 1900s because of concerns about its thujone levels and claims that thujone caused hallucinations, convulsions, insanity and death.

We now know, through research, that Absinthe is just as safe as any strong alcoholic drink. It does not contain large amounts of thujone, only small amounts, and will not cause any weird psychedelic effects. Many countries have now relaxed their Absinthe laws and people can now enjoy buying Absinthe once again.

So, what countrys permit Absinthe?

United States – It was thought that US law banned Absinthe in 1912 but this is not entirely true. US legislation states that only “thujone free” beverages can be bought and sold in the United States BUT testing equipment allows Absinthe with less than 10 parts per million of thujone (less than 10mg per liter) to count as thujone free. A few brands of Absinthe are now available in the US.

The EU (European Union) – Since 1988 Absinthe with a thujone content of up to 10mg/kg is allowed in alcohol with more than 25% alcohol by volume, and up to 35mg/kg in alcohol labeled “bitters”.

Australia – In Australia “bitters” can have a thujone content of up to 35mg/kg and other beverages can contain up to 10mg/kg.

Brazil – Absinthe of up to 10mg/kg thujone and with less than 55% abv can be sold.

Canada – Canadian provinces have their own liquor boards which govern alcohol. Many provinces do not allow any thujone containing alcohol to be sold but Absinthe is legal in British Columbia, where there is no limit, Nova Scotia, Ontario and Quebec. Quebec and Ontario legislate that Absinthe with up to 10mg/kg thujone can be legally sold.

Czech Republic – Czech Absinthe is famous and Absinthe has never been illegal in the Czech Republic.

France – French law of 1988 allows thujone beverages to be sold if they comply with EU laws and if they are labeled “spiritueux à base de plantes d’absinthe” and not Absinthe. Fenchone, the chemical found in fennel is also regulated in France and beverages are only allowed up to 5mg/liter of fenchone.

Hungary – Absinthe is legal and has been since 2004.

Israel – Absinthe is on sale in Israel.

Ireland – Thujone containing beverages are illegal to buy and sell but can be imported for personal consumption.

Netherlands – Absinthe must meet EU requirements.

New Zealand – Absinthe is legal.

Portugal – Just like the Czech Republic and Spain, Absinthe was never banned in Portugal.

Russia – Absinthe is perfectly legal in Russia and even high thujone Absinthes (up to 75mg/kg thujone) are available.

Serbia – Serbia does not seem to allow Absinthe containing thujone or above 50% abv to be sold.

South Africa – From 2005, Absinthe has been legal.

Sweden – Absinthe has to meet EU guidelines and be labeled as containing wormwood.

Switzerland – In 2005, Absinthe was finally legalized in its home country after over 90 years of being illegal.

UK – The UK never banned Absinthe. Absinthe must comply with EU legislation.

So, what countrys permit Absinthe? Lots of countries permit Absinthe which is great news because it is a wonderful mysterious drink and should be enjoyed by people all over the world.

Many people want to know if Absinthe has any effect on the body and what are the physical effects of Absinthe? Many people have never tried Absinthe because it was banned in the 1900s and was illegal for decades.

Absinthe, also known as the Green Fairy or La Fee Verte, is an anise flavored distilled alcoholic beverage made usually with a wine base and flavored with herbs. The three main herbs used in Absinthe distillation are common wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), aniseed and fennel.

Absinthe was created by a doctor, Dr Pierre Ordinaire, in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century. He created it as a tonic or elixir for his patients out of herbs renowned for their medicinal properties. Henri-Louis Pernod managed to get hold of the recipe and started making Absinthe in Couvet and then in Pontarlier, France.

Absinthe became a very popular drink and was used by French soldiers in the 1840s to treat malaria. It soon became popular in France and even took over from wine as the favorite drink of the French in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Absinthe became a “pick me up” used all over France and in many countries – bars even had Absinthe hours or “L’heure verte”.

Absinthe was served with apparel such as a special Absinthe glass, a slotted Absinthe spoon and an Absinthe fountain or carafe of iced water. It was not generally served straight but, instead, diluted with a sugar and water solution.

An article from “Sweat” magazine “Battle Cry” from the 1960s talks of how the medical profession in France were concerned about Absinthism, a “disease” caused by prolonged Absinthe drinking. Doctors claimed that it was far worse than normal alcoholism and had the following symptoms:-

Initial Symptoms after consuming Absinthe:-

– A feeling of exhilaration
– Hallucinations
– Restless nights with terrible nightmares
– Nausea and vomiting
– Trembling
– Dizziness

Symptoms of long term Absinthe abuse:-

– Frothing and convulsions
– Delirium
– Hypersensitivity to pain
– Loss of libido
– Sensitivity to hot and cold
– Insanity
– Paralysis
– Death

The French Academy of Medicine asked that Absinthe be forbidden in 1900 but their pleas were ignored. It took the murder of a family by an Absinthe drinker in Switzerland in 1905 for governments to act. Switzerland banned Absinthe in 1908, Italy in 1913 and France in 1915.

Thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was blamed for Absinthe’s physical effects. Thujone was said to be psychoactive, a neurotoxin and to act on the GABA receptors in the brain. It was even compared to THC in the drug cannabis.

However, recent research with traditional pre ban Absinthe recipes and gas chromatography tests on vintage bottles of original Absinthe have all shown that, contrary to belief, Absinthe only contained a maximum of 6mg of thujone rather than 350mg which is what people believed it contained. This amount of thujone was nowhere near a harmful level.

Many now believe that Absinthe was unfairly blamed and that Absinthe is no more dangerous than any other strong liquor. It should be consumed with care and in moderation though because it has a high ABV (alcohol by volume), twice as strong as other spirits like whisky and vodka.

What are the Physical Effects of Absinthe Today?

Most believe that Absinthe has no physical effects like causing hallucinations but those who consume bottled Absinthes, or stronger Absinthes made using kits like those available from AbsintheKit.com, and get drunk, talk about a very different drunkenness – a “clear headed” or “lucid” drunkenness. This may be due to Absinthe’s blend of herbs. Some of the herbs act as stimulants and others as sedatives.

So, what are the physical effects of Absinthe? A feeling of pleasure and enjoyment and perhaps a clear headed drunknenness.

Now that Absinthe is once again legal in many countries around the world, people are asking “What are the effects of Absinthe?”, “Will it make me trip or hallucinate?”, “Will I see the Green Fairy?”.

Absinthe is a mythical drink with many legends and stories surrounding it. Created in Switzerland as an elixir by Dr Pierre Ordinaire, it quickly became a best selling alcoholic beverage when Henri-Louis Pernod started distilling it in France. In fact, it overtook beer, cider and even wine as the most popular drink in France in the period known as La Belle Epoque, the golden age leading up to the First World War.

Famous drinkers of the Green Fairy include Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Oscar Wilde who said “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.”

Pernod made Absinthe from a wine base and flavored it with natural herbal ingredients such as wormwood, fennel, aniseed, star anise, veronica, dittany, lemon balm, hyssop, nutmeg, angelica and dittany. Some manufacturers used additional herbs such as coriander, calamus root and mint.

So, what are the effects of Absinthe?

Absinthe was popular in the time known as “The Great Binge”, a time when beverages containing cocaine were popular and the time when heroin was thought safe to use in medicine. It was linked to these types of drugs and was thought to be psychoactive and to cause:-

– Hallucinations
– Hyper excitability
– Convulsions and spasms
– Weakening of the intellect
– Insanity
– Addiction
– Brain damage
– Violence
– Death

Artists and writers consumed Absinthe to help them get inspiration and many said that it was responsible for their genius.

Absinthe, so the prohibition led people to believe, was going to drive the French people insane, make them immoral and cause the collapse of the nation. Doctors tested wormwood and thujone, the chemical from wormwood , on animals and claimed that it was like cannabis and that it caused epileptic fits and the prohibition movement blamed Absinthe for causing a man to murder his whole family, despite the fact that he had only consumed two glasses of Absinthe and copious amounts of other alcoholic beverages. Absinthe was also famously blamed for Van Gogh cutting off his own ear and for his suicide.

Absinthe was thought to contain huge amounts of thujone, up to 350mg per liter but high tech tests on original vintage bottles have proved that claims about thujone levels and the safety of Absinthe were completely false. Absinthe only contained very small amounts, up to 6mg, not enough to cause anyone to even hallucinate a little. Studies have shown that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong alcoholic drink.

I’m afraid that Absinthe won’t help you to see green fairies but it is a very strong drink, up to 75% alcohol by volume, and so will get you drunk rather quickly and easily. Also the mysterious blend of alcohol and herbs will give you a strange drunken experience, a “lucid” or “clear headed” drunkenness – a completely new experience!

So, what are the effects of Absinthe? Well, there are no bad effects except perhaps a hangover if you overdo it. Absinthe is a drink to be enjoyed and to make you feel good. Buy good quality Absinthe which contains real wormwood or make your own with essences from AbsintheKit.com and enjoy the great taste of the Green Fairy.

Now that Absinthe is once again legal in many countries around the world, people are asking “What are the effects of Absinthe?”, “Will it make me trip or hallucinate?”, “Will I see the Green Fairy?”.

Absinthe is a mythical drink with many legends and stories surrounding it. Created in Switzerland as an elixir by Dr Pierre Ordinaire, it quickly became a best selling alcoholic beverage when Henri-Louis Pernod started distilling it in France. In fact, it overtook beer, cider and even wine as the most popular drink in France in the period known as La Belle Epoque, the golden age leading up to the First World War.

Famous drinkers of the Green Fairy include Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso and Oscar Wilde who said “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.”

Pernod made Absinthe from a wine base and flavored it with natural herbal ingredients such as wormwood, fennel, aniseed, star anise, veronica, dittany, lemon balm, hyssop, nutmeg, angelica and dittany. Some manufacturers used additional herbs such as coriander, calamus root and mint.

So, what are the effects of Absinthe?

Absinthe was popular in the time known as “The Great Binge”, a time when beverages containing cocaine were popular and the time when heroin was thought safe to use in medicine. It was linked to these types of drugs and was thought to be psychoactive and to cause:-

– Hallucinations
– Hyper excitability
– Convulsions and spasms
– Weakening of the intellect
– Insanity
– Addiction
– Brain damage
– Violence
– Death

Artists and writers consumed Absinthe to help them get inspiration and many said that it was responsible for their genius.

Absinthe, so the prohibition led people to believe, was going to drive the French people insane, make them immoral and cause the collapse of the nation. Doctors tested wormwood and thujone, the chemical from wormwood , on animals and claimed that it was like cannabis and that it caused epileptic fits and the prohibition movement blamed Absinthe for causing a man to murder his whole family, despite the fact that he had only consumed two glasses of Absinthe and copious amounts of other alcoholic beverages. Absinthe was also famously blamed for Van Gogh cutting off his own ear and for his suicide.

Absinthe was thought to contain huge amounts of thujone, up to 350mg per liter but high tech tests on original vintage bottles have proved that claims about thujone levels and the safety of Absinthe were completely false. Absinthe only contained very small amounts, up to 6mg, not enough to cause anyone to even hallucinate a little. Studies have shown that Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong alcoholic drink.

I’m afraid that Absinthe won’t help you to see green fairies but it is a very strong drink, up to 75% alcohol by volume, and so will get you drunk rather quickly and easily. Also the mysterious blend of alcohol and herbs will give you a strange drunken experience, a “lucid” or “clear headed” drunkenness – a completely new experience!

So, what are the effects of Absinthe? Well, there are no bad effects except perhaps a hangover if you overdo it. Absinthe is a drink to be enjoyed and to make you feel good. Buy good quality Absinthe which contains real wormwood or make your own with essences from AbsintheKit.com and enjoy the great taste of the Green Fairy.