Absinthe the legendary alcoholic beverage of nineteenth century Paris is setting up a stunning comeback and it is not surprising that folks want to know all they can about absinthe. Absinthe has got the distinction of getting many nicknames it was called the “Green Fairy”, “Green Muse”, and also the “Green Goddess”. What adds to its mystique and aura is its fascinating history and romantic connections to the nineteenth century art scene of Europe. Absinthe’s supposed unique effects and its great taste may also be responsible for increasingly more pleasure seekers wanting to know more about absinthe.
Dr. Pierre Ordinaire a French doctor is recognized with creating absinthe the first time throughout 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 famous for its healing and curative properties for thousands of years. The digestive tonic prepared by the great doctor had huge alcohol content and an anise flavor.
In 1797 Major Dubied realized the possibility of absinthe as a possible alcoholic drink and purchased absinthe recipe from Dr. Ordinaire. Major Dubied then began 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 approved by people favorably and so Pernod moved production into a larger facility in Pontarlier, France. Initially the Pernod Fils distillery distilled only 16 liters of absinthe per day but as absinthe’s attractiveness grew they were soon distilling around 400 liters of absinthe per day. Absinthe popularity was on a continuous ascendance and by the conclusion of nineteenth century, France alone consumed more than 2 million liters of absinthe per year.
France was one place whereby absinthe’s attractiveness was the biggest plus it was loved by both the upper class and also the common public. The bohemian culture of nineteenth century France embraced absinthe and lots of an excellent painters, writers and intellectuals regularly 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 people to start their day with a glass of absinthe and end their day with more than one glass of absinthe. Absinthe brought about a distinctive democratization of European society; it was cherished by bankers, musicians, butchers, laborers, artists and ladies. Absinthe drink was prepared utilizing an elaborate ritual and special absinthe spoons, absinthe glasses, absinthe fountains were used in this ritual.
The astonishing acceptance enjoyed by absinthe finally caused its pitfall. The temperance movement and the anti alcohol lobby pressed hard for its prohibition. Absinthe was blamed for “absinthism” a mental condition observed by violent behavior and madness. The wine business of nineteenth century, already reeling due to absinthe’s popularity, backed 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 prohibited absinthe. Only Spain, the Czech lands (Bohemia, Czech Silesia, and Moravia) and the Great britain did not ban absinthe.
Absinthe continued to be banned in the United States and several Countries in europe for most of the twentieth century; nonetheless, in the light of new discoveries at the end of twentieth century that conclusively proved that absinthe did not contain harmful levels of mind bending compounds like thujone, most countries legalized absinthe once more.
Unfortunately, absinthe is still considered illegal in the states; only a watered down version of absinthe is allowed to be manufactured traded in the US. 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 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 or any other neutral spirit to ready 750 ml of absinthe.
There are various websites from which you can order your absinthe, absinthe kits, absinthe essence and various absinthe accessories. By far the most trusted and reputed name is absinthekit.com. Absinthekit.com offers some of the finest deals on the net for many types of genuine absinthe essence, and also other absinthe accessories.