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The Absinthe fairy was used on Absinthe label and posters. The film Moulin Rouge was focused on the french Bohemian culture of Montmartre in Paris where the Green Fairy Absinthe was the favorite drink of artists and writers. 

Absinthe Fairy Followers

Famous devotees of La Fee Verte, the Green Fairy, were Vincent Van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Gauguin, Oscar Wilde and Ernest Hemingway who created his own Absinthe cocktail “Death in the Afternoon” - a mix of Absinthe and champagne. Writers and artists claimed that they developed their inspiration with the help of Absinthe and several pieces of art of the time feature Absinthe or Absinthe drinkers. The Belle Epoque period of history is famous as the hey day for Absinthe.

Herbs and essential oils are used to make Absinthe. An extract from the plant wormwood or artemisia absinthium is the essential ingredient of Absinthe. Absinthe gets it characteristic bitter taste from wormwood and it’s anise flavor from herbs.

Thujone, a chemical found in wormwood oil, was thought to be psychoactive and to give psychedelic effects, cause hallucinations and eventually insanity. The prohibition campaigners ammunition get Absinthe banned in France in 1915. The buying or selling of Absinthe was banned. Many other countries also banned it. Spain, where Absinthe was called Absenta, Portugal, the UK and the Czech Republic did not ban the Green Fairy.

Absinthe Fairy and Prohibition

During the prohibition period, distilleries, such as the Pernod Fils distillery, started producing Absinthe substitutes such as Pernod Pastis to market to the people who were missing the anise flavor of Absinthe. Ricard was also used in place of Absinthe.

Bootleg absinthe was still distilled and sold in many countries which meant that the distilling of Absinthe has never been lost.

In Switzerland Absinthe was authorized in 2005 whereas in other nations it was made legal during 1900. You can now buy Absinthe and Absinthe essence kits online along with Absinthiana such as glasses, spoons and fountains. Drinking Absinthe out of a special antique or replica glass with a proper spoon give effects to the Absinthe preparation ritual.

Absinthe contained minute quantities of thujone which cannot harm a person so it was legalized in many places. Although Absinthe is much higher in alcohol than other spirits but it was never designed to drink neat. One should mix it with iced water to enjoy La Louche – the clouding that happens when the water mixes with the alcohol.

You can order real wormwood Absinthe from many websites and essences to make your own bottled Absinthe are available from AbsintheKit.com.

 

 

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