Absinthe the legendary alcoholic beverage of nineteenth century Paris is generating a stunning comeback and it’s hardly surprising that people want to know all they can about absinthe. Absinthe has the distinction of having many nicknames it had been referred to as “Green Fairy”, “Green Muse”, and the “Green Goddess”. What enhances its mystery and aura is its fascinating history and romantic connections to the nineteenth century art scene of Europe. Absinthe’s supposed unique effects and its particular great taste are also responsible for a growing number of pleasure seekers wanting to know a little more about absinthe.
Dr. Pierre Ordinaire a French doctor is credited with creating absinthe the very first time during his stay in Switzerland. The great doctor wished to create a digestive tonic to take care of stomach ailments using wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Wormwood was recognized for its healing and curative properties for thousands of years. The digestive tonic prepared by the good doctor had huge alcohol content plus 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 commenced commercial manufacturing of absinthe liquor together with his son-in-law Henri Louis Pernod in the Val de Travers region of Switzerland. Absinthe was commencing to be accepted by people favorably and thus Pernod moved production into a much bigger facility in Pontarlier, France. Initially the Pernod Fils distillery distilled only 16 liters of absinthe a day but as absinthe’s attractiveness grew they were shortly distilling more than 400 liters of absinthe each day. Absinthe popularity was on a continuous ascendance and by the end of nineteenth century, France alone utilized more than two million liters of absinthe each year.
France was one place whereby absinthe’s attractiveness was the greatest and it was loved by both equally the aristocracy and also the typical public. The bohemian culture of nineteenth century France embraced absinthe and many an excellent painters, writers and intellectuals regularly reached out for any 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 people to begin their day with a glass of absinthe and end their day with over one glass of absinthe. Absinthe brought about a distinctive democratization of European society; it was loved by bankers, musicians, butchers, laborers, artists and females. Absinthe drink was prepared using an elaborate routine and specific absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses, absinthe fountains were used in this ritual.
The spectacular acceptance enjoyed by absinthe gradually caused its pitfall. The temperance movement and the anti alcohol lobby pressed hard for its prohibition. Absinthe was blamed for “absinthism” a mental condition characterized by violent conduct and madness. The wine business of nineteenth century, already reeling on account of absinthe’s popularity, reinforced the ban calls and lobbied hard with a few governments in Europe. Towards the end of the first decade of the twentieth century most countries in Western Europe had restricted absinthe. Only Spain, the Czech lands (Bohemia, Czech Silesia, and Moravia) and the United Kingdom didn’t ban absinthe.
Absinthe continued to be banned in the States and several Countries in europe for the majority of of the twentieth century; nevertheless, within the light of new discoveries after twentieth century that conclusively proved that absinthe didn’t contain harmful levels of mind bending compounds like thujone, most countries legalized absinthe once more.
Unfortunately, absinthe is still considered illegal in america; just a watered down version of absinthe is permitted to be manufactured traded in the US. The good thing is that US citizens can continue to buy absinthe online from non-US producers or better still order absinthe kits and absinthe essence and then make their very own absinthe from home. These absinthe essences are created using traditional absinthe recipes. 20 ml of absinthe essence is blended with 730 ml of vodka or Everclear as well as other neutral spirit to prepare 750 ml of absinthe.
There are several websites from where you can purchase your absinthe, absinthe kits, absinthe essence and other absinthe accessories. By far the most trusted and reputed name is absinthekit.com. Absinthekit.com offers some of the best deals on the net for a few forms of real absinthe essence, and also other absinthe accessories.