The legalization of a few brands of Absinthe in 2007 in the United States makes the people to experience an Absinthe revival. Yet, some people don’t really know how to use Absinthe correctly or even what absinthe is.
What is Absinthe
Absinthe is not a hallucinogen or a drug. It is a strong alcoholic beverage with an alcohol by volume of up to 75% and an anise flavor.
Dr Pierre Ordinaire prepared Absinthe as an elixir in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century. Absinthe was distilled and sold by Henri-Louis Pernod commercially by the turn of the 19th century. Pernod used a wine alcohol base distilled with variety of natural herbs and also fennel, aniseed, star anise,wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), hyssop, lemon balm, angelica, juniper, dittany, nutmeg and melissa.
Absinthe, or La Fee Verte (Green Fairy)as it became known in France, became such a popular drink that it even became more popular than wine in France. Absinthe bars became popular and the “Ritual” or traditional method of using and preparing Absinthe was born.
Absinthe was banned in France in 1915 because of it allegedly dangerous effects. All over the world these claims have proven themselves wrong on careful examination. Absinthe is not responsible for such effects. Absinthe was authorized in several countries in the 1990s.
How to Use Absinthe the Traditional Way
To prepare Absinthe in the traditional way is to use the “Ritual”.
These are necessary items :-
- A large glass or Absinthe glass.
- Absinthe
- An Absinthe spoon – replica glasses and spoons can be purchased online at AbsintheKit.One can visit the site AbsintheKit.com to make his own Absinthe. Top-quality Absinthe essences is essential for making one’s own Absinthe.
- One has to use a sugar cube.
- Sufficient amount of carafe of iced water.
One has to pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass.
Put the sugar cube on the resting spoon.
The sugar can be dissolved by dripping the iced water slowly on it.
The Absinthe louche is seen as the water mixes into the Absinthe. Because of insolubility of the essential oils in the water the mixture gets cloudy.
The taste of the Green Fairy can be enjoyed by the stirring the Absinthe.
Although Absinthe will not give hallucinations but one can easily get drunk on Absinthe. Either naturally sedative in nature or stimulants herbs are used to prepare Absinthe. This blend of herbs can give a very different drunkenness than that caused by other spirits or wine or beer. It is also popular as a “clear headed” drunkenness.
The Czech or Bohemian Method
With this method, once you have poured the shot of Absinthe into the glass you dip the sugar cube into the alcohol and then set it alight on the spoon with a match. After the caramelization and melting of sugar the iced water van be added into the Absinthe.
There is a bit of enjoyment with the Bohemian method of drinking Absinthe. It can be risky as the whole glass of Absinthe can catch fire, a bit of a waste of Absinthe! Care should be taken.
Although the Ritual is the well known method of using Absinthe but cocktail recipes can also be made by it.
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