There is so much contradictory Absinthe information available online as well as in books, it is hard to understand what to trust.
Unreliable Absinthe Information
One book “Absinthe The Cocaine of the ineteenth century: A History of the Hallucinogenic Drug and its Effect on Artists and Writers in Europe and the United States” by Doris Lanier, compares Absinthe to drugs like cocaine because it absinthe spoons was stated to be addictive, to give a sense of euphoria, have psychedelic effects and weaken mental performance as well as other faculties.
Absinthe became well known at the end of the 19th century and early twentieth century, a time referred to as “The Great Binge”. This has been a period in history when many of today’s illegal drugs like crack cocaine, morphine and heroin were created and used by normal individuals for medicine, on prescription for coughs etc. as well as in drinks. Popular drinks in bars were Absinthe, Vin Maraiani (cocaine and wine) and Coca Cola (then produced from cocaine, wine and kola nuts). These drugs and drinks were all considered to be harmless and were widely used throughout Europe.
Absinthe was associated with these drugs for its level of popularity with Bohemian artists and writers, who liked to overindulge to assist their creativity, and with the loose morals of the courtesans in the Moulin Rouge and Montmartre.
Thujone, the compound in wormwood, was furthermore claimed to generally be psychoactive and similar to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in the drug cannabis (marijuana). Both THC and Thujone are terpenoids and so are both from essential oils but THC affects the central nervous system whereas thujone affects the GABA receptors within the brain. When wormwood is smoked as a joint or used in big amounts, it’s been proven to cause effects similar to cannabis intoxication – to result in hallucinations and fantasies, to make anyone feel euphoric, to relieve pain and to work as an aphrodisiac.
Absinthe was banned along with some drugs in the early 1900s and was made illegal to buy and sell in many countries all over the world. Now that we know it’s ban was just a part of the hysteria of that time period. People lumped Absinthe, the Green Fairy, together with drugs like heroin (the White Fairy), cannabis and cocaine as well as these days there are numerous people and websites who mention Absinthe within the exact same sentence as magic mushrooms, LSD, weed, cannabis and ecstasy.
Absinthe Information – That which we now know
We know that medical studies on Absinthe and wormwood in past times were not accurate and were “colored” by the prohibition movement of the time and the worry that Absinthe was a drug. Recent reports have shown that Absinthe, once it is distilled, only contains tiny amounts of thujone – insufficient to cause any harmful unwanted effects or hallucinations, that is merely a myth. Even tests on vintage pre ban Absinthe shows that it hardly comprised any thujone whatsoever. A person would die of alcohol poisoning a long time before suffering any unwanted side effects from thujone.
Results from studies and research have caused many countries to legalize Absinthe again therefore the Green Fairy can be positively enjoyed in bars and in homes across the world.
Though it might not exactly make you trip or get high, it’s easy to get drunk on Absinthe for its high proof. It has twice the alcohol content of spirits just like vodka or whisky so care should be taken when drinking it. Should you get drunk on Absinthe you will probably experience a very different intoxication than you’d probably experience from other spirits or fermented beverages. Many describe it as being a “lucid” or “clear headed” sort of drunkenness. This could be explained by the combination of herbs as well as the alcohol – a blend of sedatives and stimulants. Some individuals enhance these qualities by developing cocktails containing Absinthe and also the caffeine loaded drink Red Bull!
So, you will be disappointed if you believe a lot of the misleading Absinthe information and purchase Absinthe to offer you vivid hallucinations. However, it’s a great tasting herbal liquor which is fun to make and contains a fantastic anise flavor. You may even enjoy making your own personal wormwood Absinthe in your own home through the use of real, top-quality Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com – an enjoyable and economical method to enjoy Absinthe.