No drink in the history of mankind has been so vilified as absinthe. Absinthe has become shrouded in mystery mainly because of the wormwood ingredient that is important to make absinthe. Absinthe, one of the finest of liquors ever produced had been wrongfully banned for nearly a century, is creating a grand comeback in numerous European countries as more www.absinthekit.com/articles and more governments are once again legalizing absinthe. Recent new discoveries have proved rather conclusively that absinthe does not consist of harmful levels of thujone.
Absinthe is made of several herbs, the primary herbs being wormwood or Artemisia absinthium, anise, and fennel these three herbs are the primary herbs and are also referred as the “holy trinity”. Another list of herbs are used for enhancing absinthe’s taste and the last number of herbs is employed for aroma and flavor. The taste enhancing herbs involve calamus, hyssop, star anise, angelica and coriander. Herbs such as Roman wormwood, Melissa, Roman chamomile, veronica, and mint are employed for adding color, aroma, and flavor.
Of all of the herbs the most essential is wormwood or grande wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Wormwood is the primary constituent in absinthe that greatly defines absinthe. It is bitter to taste and possesses a chemical compound thujone, thujone is known to be the cause of absinthe’s unique effects.
Wormwood is indigenous to the Mediterranean regions of Asia and Europe; however, it also grows in several areas of North America. Wormwood grown from the alpine slopes is regarded as the most effective. Ideally, the wormwood plant is harvested just before flowering as the thujone content in the plant is the highest at this time. Wormwood is known for its medicinal properties and has been useful to treat many gastrointestinal ailments for thousands of years. The wormwood plant was also used to stimulate appetite.
A French doctor Dr. Pierre Ordinaire designed absinthe as a digestive tonic in the late 18th century. Absinthe had high alcohol content and soon became the favorite drink of Europeans. A primary reason for its reputation was that it supplied drinkers a clear headed inebriation unlike some other drink at that time. It was a hugely popular drink amongst writers and artists. However, as a result of some unsubstantiated rumors and misunderstandings, prevalent through the temperance movement in Europe, absinthe was banned by most countries in Western Europe.
During the last decade of the 20th century several studies executed by various scientists conclusively proved that the thujone content in pre-ban absinthe was within endurable limits. Since then several countries have legalized absinthe and it is now freely obtainable in most European countries. The United States continues to ban absinthe and deprive its citizens the pleasure of tasting this fine liquor.
Fortunately for American citizens possession and intake of absinthe is not a crime. US citizens can buy absinthe on the internet from non-US manufacturers. The most effective way is to obtain absinthe kits or absinthe essence on the internet and prepare their own personal absinthe. Absinthe accessories such as absinthe glasses, spoons, absinthe fountains, and labels also are in great demand due to their historical significance.
Absinthekit.com is the greatest place on the net where one can get great bargains on genuine absinthe essence, absinthe kits, as well as other absinthe accessories.