Why is absinthe called the Green Fairy
Absinthe La Fee Verte or Green Fairy
Two names describe Absinthe “Green Fairy” or “La Fee Verte” is a drink with great history behind it. From humble beginnings that saw it being developed as tonic in the 18th century it today commands respect as the most famous and controversial drinks of all times.
The presence of 45 to 75% alcohol in the anise flavored spirit Absinthe makes it very strong. Emerald green color gives it the name “La Fee Verte” in French and “Green /fairy” in English. This distilled liquor is made from herbs. Green aniseed , fennel and wormwood are considered the main herbs. Absinthe was first commercially produced by Henri-Louis Pernod the maker of the famous Pernod Absinthe recipe, he used herbs such as hyssop, nutmeg, veronica, star anise, dittany, lemon balm, and juniper. Other ingrediants such as the herb calamus were used by some manufacturers and this herb along with wormwood and nutmeg were though to be psychoactive. Herbs in Absinthe release essential oils and this causes the louche effect when water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. As you add water to Absinthe it clouds or louches due to the insolubility of oils.
Absinthe or the Green Fairy and the Creative World
Artists and Writers of the Bohemian culture were inspired by Absinthe’s magical properties. Famous Absinthe drinkers include Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde. Absinthe gave writers and artists their inspiration and genius and many were convinced about it. Paintings of Picasso and Van Gogh have even featured Absinthe and Absinthe drinkes.
Association with old Montmartre, Bohemian sect and Moulin Rouge was the perfect excuses that prohibition campaigners were looking for. By 1915 prohibition campaigners had linked Absinthe to marital problems, murders, family problems this resulted in the sale of Absinthe being made illegal and it was finally banned. Almost all countries banned it with the exception of the Czech Republic, Portugal, Spain and the UK where it enjoyed legal status.
Psychedelic effects of drinking the effects have been blamed on thujone, a chemical present in wormwood. Thujone was thought to be similar to THC in cannabis. Alcohol and ethanol are the main ingredients of Absinthe and thujone if any is present in very minute quantities. Research shows that the real danger in Absinthe comes from its high Alcohol content and not from thujone, researchers also claim that Absinthe is a safe yet strong liquor. Numerous Articles and studies have been written on the subject. For pleasure drink it in moderation as it is twice as strong as whisky and vodka.
In the Czech Republic Absinthe bars, decorated with Absinthe posters, served vintage style absinthe in large classic glasses and people thoroughly loved and patronised it during the prohibition. Today the US allows only absinthe with trace amounts of thujone to be sold or bought and the EU controlls the thujone levels in the absinthe sold there however, absinthe is legal in many other countries.
Bottle of absinthe essence or absinthe may be ordered from the website AbsintheKit.com) to make your own Absinthe or the Green Fairy to bottle at home. Wormwood the most vital ingredient in Absinthe and Absinthe essence is not present in the new Absinthes produced for the US market.
Absinthe or the Green Fairy a truly decandent drink can be prepared with this delicious spirit by mixing it with champagne! Just for your Knowledge Asinthe kit is the best way to get economical Absinthe.
