Absinthe the legendary alcoholic drink of nineteenth century Paris is setting up a stunning comeback and it is no surprise that people would like to know all they could about absinthe. Absinthe has got the distinction of owning many nicknames it had been known as the “Green Fairy”, “Green Muse”, as well as the “Green Goddess”. What enhances its charisma and aura is its fascinating background and romantic connections towards the nineteenth century art scene of Europe. Absinthe’s supposed unique effects as well as its great taste are also responsible for increasingly more pleasure seekers wanting to know much more about absinthe.
Dr. Pierre Ordinaire a French doctor is recognized with creating absinthe for the first time throughout his stay in Switzerland. The great doctor wished to develop a digestive tonic to treat stomach ailments using wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Wormwood was recognized for its healing and curative properties since ancient times. This enzymatic tonic made by the great doctor had huge alcohol content as well as an anise flavor.
Around 1797 Major Dubied realized the potential of absinthe as an alcoholic beverage and bought absinthe recipe from Dr. Ordinaire. Major Dubied then begun commercial manufacture of absinthe liquor along with his son-in-law Henri Louis Pernod in the Val de Travers region of Switzerland. Absinthe was starting to be accepted by people favorably and so Pernod moved production towards a larger facility in Pontarlier, France. Initially the Pernod Fils distillery distilled only 16 liters of absinthe each day but as absinthe’s recognition grew they were soon distilling around 400 liters of absinthe each day. Absinthe popularity was on a constant ascendance and by the end of nineteenth century, France alone utilized over two million liters of absinthe a year.
France was one place where absinthe’s popularity was the biggest plus it was loved by both the upper class and also the typical public. The bohemian tradition of nineteenth century France embraced absinthe and many an excellent painters, writers and intellectuals routinely reached out for a glass of the green fairy. Some well known names included Vincent Van Gogh, and Pablo Picasso. By 1870 absinthe popularity was at an all time high and it was common for folks to start their day with a glass of absinthe and end their day with over one glass of absinthe. Absinthe created an exceptional democratization of European society; it was adored by bankers, musicians, butchers, laborers, artists and ladies. Absinthe drink was prepared using an elaborate custom and special absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses, absinthe fountains were set up in this ritual.
The astonishing acceptance enjoyed by absinthe ultimately caused its downfall. The temperance movement plus the anti alcohol lobby pressed hard for its prohibition. Absinthe was held responsible for “absinthism” a mental condition characterized by violent behavior and madness. The wine industry of nineteenth century, already reeling because of absinthe’s popularity, reinforced the ban calls and lobbied hard with several governments in Europe. At the end of the first decade of the 20th century most countries in Western Europe had prohibited absinthe. Only Spain, the Czech lands (Bohemia, Czech Silesia, and Moravia) and the UK did not ban absinthe.
Absinthe stayed banned in the States and many Countries in europe for the majority of of the twentieth century; nonetheless, within the light of new discoveries at the end of twentieth century that conclusively proved that absinthe didn’t contain harmful amounts of mind bending substances like thujone, most countries legalized absinthe once again.
Unfortunately, absinthe continues to be considered illegal in america; just a watered down version of absinthe is allowed to be manufactured and sold in the usa. The good news is that US residents can continue to buy absinthe online from non-US producers or even better order absinthe kits and absinthe essence and make their very own absinthe from home. These absinthe essences are made using traditional absinthe recipes. 20 ml of absinthe essence is mixed with 730 ml of vodka or Everclear or some other neutral spirit to ready 750 ml of absinthe.
There are several websites from where you can purchase your absinthe, absinthe kits, absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories. The most trusted and reputed name is absinthekit.com. Absinthekit.com offers some of the best deals available on the internet for many types of genuine absinthe essence, and other absinthe accessories.