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There has been much controversy regarding the thujone levels in Absinthe and whether Absinthe can really make you hallucinate but what about its alcohol content – How much alcohol is in Absinthe?

All commercial alcoholic drinks are labeled to show their alcohol content which makes easy for people to decide about the drink and also the quantity of intaking them.

Alcohol content is measured by using a hydrometer. A hydrometer seems slightly like a fishing float with a thermometer attached. The hydrometer swims straight in the liquid. The water line will be at the level marked 1 after putting it in water.If it is supplied in sugared water the level will be higher as the water gets denser. The float moves lower when the hydrometer is put in fermenting alcohol. A person needs to take the first measurement with the sugar but before the yeast is added and then the final measurement after the yeast has completed fermentation while preparing alcohol.

Alcohol by volume is worked out by the following formula:-
Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume.

The EU and the United States use label for the alcohol by volume content of drinks while a few countries go on proof. One can find proof to be approximately two times more alcohol by volume.

Different brands of Absinthe have different alcohol contents. Look at the following statistics:-

Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
La Clandestine Absinthe 53% abv (106 proof)
One can get 55% abv  in Sebor
The alcohol content is found to be 60% in Pere Kermanns
The alcohol content in Pernod Absinthe is 68% abv
The alcohol content in Mari Mayans Collectors 70 is 70% abv (140 proof)
Information about La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise contains 68% abv (136 proof) of alcohol
La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
Knowledge of La Fee Parisian 68% abv (136 proof)
The alcohol by volume is 53% abv (106 proof) in Kubler 53
The alcohol content is found to be 65% abv in Doubs Mystique Carte D’Or
The availibility of alcohol content in Roquette 1797 is 75% abv
Jade PF 1901 68% abv (136 proof)
Jade Edouard contains 72% abv (144 proof) of alcohol
Ideas about Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)

As you can see Absinthe can range from 53% abv to 75% abv, quite a difference. Now, let’s compare those levels to other alcoholic drinks:-

Absolut Blue Vodka 40% abv (80 proof)
One can get 38% abv (76 proof) in Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila
Beer can have 4 or 5% alcohol by volume.
Alcohol by volume in Table Wine is 9-12%.
Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky is available with 40% alcohol by volume (80 proof).
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)

No other alcoholic drink seems to come close to Absinthe!

One can find differences in alcohol content of homemade Absinthes. An Absinthe essence can be mixed from AbsintheKit.com.Absolut vodka and Everclear are available at AbsintheKit.com which have different alcohol content.

Absinthe was banned in the 1900s because of claims that thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was like THC in the drug cannabis and that it was psychoactive and caused psychedelic effects. Although the claims that Absinthe is an hallucinogen are completely wrong but one should not forget that excess drinking of any liquor can be harmful. People in Memphis have realized this and in 2006, Memphis was the least alcohol consuming city in the USA – many Memphis citizens had not even drunk a sip of alcohol in at least a month when they were polled.

Alcohol is fine if consumed in moderation but you need to know how much alcohol is in Absinthe and other alcohol that you buy and consume.

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Artemisia Absinthiumis the botanical and Latin name for the plant Common Wormwood. The name “Artemisia” was kept from the name of the Greek Goddess Artemis. Artemis was the goddess of forests and hills, of the hunt and also a protector of children. Later Artemis was connected to the moon. According to the people’s thought the Latin word “Absinthium” came from the Ancient Greek meaning “without sweetness”.

The herb, oil and seeds are from the Common Wormwood plant which often grows in rocky areas and on arid ground in Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. It has also been found growing in parts of North America after spreading from people’s gardens. Common wormwood or Artemisia Absinthium is also popular as green ginger, grande wormwood and armoise.

Wormwood plants appear beautiful with their tiny yellow flowers and silver gray leaves. Wormwood oil is available in tiny glands on the leaves. Tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood are also members of the Artemisia group. The Artemisia plants originated from the Aster family of plants.

There are various uses of wormwood as a herbal medicine
- It can be used in easing labor pains in women.
- The poisoning from toadstools and hemlock can be counteracted.
- Also available as an antiseptic.
- Digestive problems are relieved by using it. People having less amount of stomach acid can be cured with the help of wormwood.
- As a cardiac stimulant in pharmaceuticals.
- One can use it in reducing fevers.
- One can use it as an anthelmintic to expel intestinal worms.
- People know it as an elixir.

Alzheimer’s disease and Crohn’s disease can be cured by wormwood.

Effects of Artemisia Absinthium

Wormwood is a key ingredient in the liquor Absinthe, the Green Fairy, which was banned in many countries in the early 1900s. Absinthe is named after this herb which also gives the drink its characteristic bitter taste,

Absinthe was banned because of its alleged psychedelic effects. People thought that the problems of hallucinations and madness occurred by it. Absinthe was also linked to the Bohemian culture of Parisian Montmartre with its loose morals, courtesans and artists and writers.

There is no difference between the chemical thujone in wormwood and the THC in the drug cannabis. The quantity of thujone is so small in Absinthe that one had to drink excess of Absinthe to feel the harmful effects of thujone!

One should drink Absinthe in moderation because it is about twice as strong as whisky and vodka.

An Absinthe without Artemisia Absinthium is not the real Absinthe. There are also “fake” Absinthes away from the real Green Fairy which are prepared from other herbs and flavorings. If you want the real thing you must check that they contain thujone or Common Wormwood or use essences,such as those from AbsintheKit.Absinthe with Artemisia Absinthium can be prepared by visiting the website AbsintheKit.com.

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It is difficult to select the right one as there are many contradictory Absinthe information available online and in books.

Misleading Absinthe Information

One book “Absinthe The Cocaine of the 19th Century: A History of the Hallucinogenic Drug and its Effect on Artists and Writersin Europe and the United States” by Doris Lanier, compares Absinthe to drugs such as cocaine because it was said to be addictive, to give a sense of euphoria, have psychedelic effects and weaken the brain and other faculties.

During the 19th and 20th century Absinthe became popular all over the world. This was a time in history when most of today’s illegal drugs was used by normal everyday people for different purpose. One can use it in drinks. The well known drinks in bars were Absinthe, Vin Maraiani and Coca Cola. These drugs and drinks were used widely in the whole Europe.

Absinthe was linked with these drugs because of its popularity with Bohemian artists and writers and with the loose morals of the courtesans of the Moulin Rouge and Montmartre.

Thujone was proved to be psychoactive and similar to THC. THC affects the central nervous system whereas thujone affects the GABA receptors in the brain. The consumption of wormwood in large quantities give rise to the same effects as caused by the cannabis intoxication.

Several countries banned Absinthe along with some drugs in the early 1900s. Banning it was just a part of the hysteria of the time. People lumped Absinthe together with drugs and even as magic mushrooms, LSD, weed, cannabis and ecstasy. 

Absinthe Information – What we now know

We know that medical studies on Absintheand wormwood in the past were not accurate and were “colored” by the prohibition movement of the time and the worry that Absinthe was a drug. Recent studies have proved that one cannot suffer with any harmful side effects or hallucinations due to intake of Absinthe. Vintage pre ban Absinthe do not contained any thujone content. A person would die of alcohol poisoning long before suffering any side effects from thujone.

Absinthe can now be enjoyed in bars and in homes across the world as it is authorized in most of the countries.

A person can easily be drunk on Absinthe because of it’s high proof. Due to the double quantity of the alcohol content in it one must take care when consuming it. A person drinking Absinthe will experience intoxication different from other spirits or fermented beverages. It is described as a “lucid” or “clear headed” kind of drunkenness by several people. One can understand this by the blend of herbs and the alcohol. A few people improve these qualities by making cocktails containing Absinthe and the caffeine loaded drink Red Bull!

A person can be disappointed with some of the confusing Absinthe information. The preparation of this anise flavor alcoholic beverage is entertaining. One can get real, top-quality Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com to prepare his own wormwood Absinthe at home.One can enjoy Absinthe on less expense at AbsintheKit.com.

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Since there has been an Absinthe revival in many countries over the past few years, many people are seeking Absinthe info.

“La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” is the nickname of Absinthe. A wine base and different type of herbail ingredients are used in it’s distillation process.

The name and taste of Absinthe is related to the common wormwood, artemisia absinthium from which it is made. Due to the ban on the use of thujone in some countries “fake” Absinthes were produced which do not contain wormwood.

Absinthe production also includes other types of herbs and essential oils like fennel, green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, juniper, angelica, licorice, dittany, coriander, nutmeg and sweet flag. Due to the essential oils Absinthe louches when coming in contact with water. The drink becomes cloudy because the oils are soluble in alcohol but not in water.

Absinthe Info about the Ban

The prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe was harmful and that drinking Absinthe led to “Absinthism” which was characterized by convulsions, fits, madness, brain damage and ultimately death. Thujone was thought to be the cause for psychedelic effects. It was believed that Absinthe had a large amount of thujone content because of which it was extremely toxic and dangerous. Absinthe was banned in many countries around the world in the early 1900s.

We now know that these statements and claims regarding Absinthe are entirely false. A person can be in risk with high amount of thujone. Absinthe from the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries was thought to contain as much as 350mg of thujone per kg, recent studies have shown that it contained a maximum of 6mg per kg – a huge difference. You would have to drink an impossible amount of Absinthe for thujone to be of any danger to you – you would die of Alcohol poisoning first!

Absinthe has now been legalized in most countries and there are many types and styles available:-

- Clear Absinthe – This is known as La Bleue or Blanche Absinthe and is commonly distilled in Switzerland.

- La Verte – This is traditional green Absinthe, the Green Fairy.

The normal French or Swiss Absinthe is less sweeter than the Spanish Absinthe.

- Bohemian or Czech style Absinthe is a wormwood bitter in comparison to an Absinthe, which does not contain aniseed or fennel.

A few Absinthes are unreal as they lack thujone or wormwood content.

You can also make your own Absintheby using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. Aniseed, wormwood and fennel are the classic Absinthe herbs and part of essences which are distilled by modern carbon dioxide distillation. A person can prepare his own Absinthe by mixing with a neutral alcohol such as vodka or Everclear.

For purchasing essences, replica spoons and Absinthe glasses and getting more Abisinthe info one can visit to AbsintheKit.com.

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An Absinthe revival can be experienced due to the authorization of some brands of Absinthe in 2007 in the United States. Yet, some people don’t really know how to use Absinthe correctly or even what Absinthe is.

What is Absinthe

Absinthe is not a hallucinogen or a drug. It is a strong alcoholic beverage with an alcohol by volume of up to 75% and an anise flavor.

Absinthe was created as a medicine by Dr Pierre Ordinaire in Couvet, Switzerland in the 18th century. Absinthe was distilled and sold by Henri-Louis Pernod commercially by the turn of the 19th century. Pernod used a wine alcohol base distilled with variety of natural herbs and also fennel, aniseed, star anise,wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium),  hyssop, lemon balm, angelica, juniper, dittany, nutmeg and melissa.

In France the popularity of Absinthe is more than wine. Absinthe bars became popular and gave rise to the “Ritual” or traditional procedure of using and preparing Absinthe.

France banned Absinthe when it was claimed that Absinthe contained psychoactive chemicals and cause hallucinations, convulsions, insanity and death. Everybody now knows that these claims were false. Absinthe cannot and does not cause such effects. During 1990s Absinthe was legalized in several countries.

How to Use Absinthe the Traditional Way

To prepare Absinthe in the traditional way is to use the “Ritual”.
These are necessary items :-
- A large glass or Absinthe glass.
- Absinthe
- An Absinthe spoon– replica glasses and spoons can be purchased online at AbsintheKit.com along with top-quality Absinthe essences to make your own Absinthe. To prepare own Absinthe a person will require top-quality Absinthe essences.
- A sugar cube.
- Take a carafe of iced water.

One has to pour a shot of Absinthe into the glass.
The spoon should be kept motionless on the rim of the glass before putting the sugar cube on it.
Slowly drip, rather than pour, the iced water over the sugar to dissolve it.
As soon as the water mixes into the Absinthe,the Absinthe louche is seen. As the essential oils in the Absinthe do not mix in water so the mixture gets cloudy.
A person can enjoy the taste of the Green Fairy after stirring his Absinthe.

Although Absinthe will not give hallucinations but one can easily get drunk on Absinthe. Herbs that are naturally sedative in nature and stimulants are used to make Absinthe. One can feel a very different drunkenness with this blend of herbs. Some call it as a “clear headed” drunkenness.

The Czech or Bohemian Method

With this method, once you have poured the shot of Absinthe into the glass you dip the sugar cube into the alcohol and then set it alight on the spoon with a match. A person can add the iced water after the sugar has caramelized and melted from the spoon into the Absinthe.

The Bohemian method is a modern method that is a bit of fun in comparison to a serious method of drinking Absinthe. There are some risks as the fire can catch the whole Absinthe glass! It is necessary to take care.

Although the Ritual is the well known method of using Absinthe but cocktail recipes can also be made by it.

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Absinthe effects are notorious. Absinthe is known throughout the world for it’s colorful history and the mysterious myths that surround it.

During 18th century Absinthe was made as an elixir or tonic in Switzerland and was primarity used for treating patients. The herb wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium) which is main ingredient of it has been used in medicine in various form since ancient times
- It works as a tonic
-  To negate poisoning caused by hemlock and toadstools
-Used to stimulate digestion
- To deal with parasitic intestinal worms.

First Absinthe was distilled and sold by Pernod then it became well known in La Belle Epoque period and linked with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. Absinthe inspired several popular artists and writers so they relied on it’s effects. Van Gogh cut off his ear due to influence of the Green Fairy, Absinthe.

A large number of people assumed that Absinthe was harmful and could give rise to violence and madness. According to a description a French man had murdered his whole family after drinking Absinthe. One must have consumed excess amount of other alcoholic beverages after drinking the Absinthe.

The Absinthe effects were blamed on the wormwood extract in the drink which contained a chemical called thujone. Thujone had qualities same as TCH. In France and many other countries Absinthe was banned and made illegal during the year 1915. It was always free in Spain, Portugal, the UK or the Czech Republic.

Many people researched thujone and Absinthe and it was found that drinking Absinthe was just as safe as drinking any strong spirits, and liquor with a high alcohol by volume, and that Absinthe contained only very minute quantities of thujone. Absinthe was, therefore, made legal again in many countries in the 1990s. The bottled Absinthe which contains 10mg/kg or less of thujone can be sold as per EU legislation.

The Absinthe ban is related to the new Absinthe-like products that had been created to replace Absinthe for satisfying people’s appetite. A person can easily buy these beverages along with artificial Absinthes which have been made for the US market. A real Absinthe is that which contains the vital ingredient, wormwood for giving Absinthe it’s characteristic bitter flavor. Own bottled Absinthe can be prepared by Absinthes or Absinthe essences that contain wormwood and can be mixed with vodka or Everclear. These essences are used by the Absinthe industry and can be bought online through sites like AbsintheKit.com. Instructions on how to use are available with them and Absinthe spoon and glass is required to use them.

Don’t neglect Absinthe effects if intaking a significant amount of Absinthe. One should not forget that Absinthe is twice as strong as whisky and should drink it in moderation!

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Absinthe Green Fairyis an alcoholic drink with an interesting history. Although it was developed as an elixir in the 18th century it is one of the most controversial and well known drinks of everytime.

Absinthe is an anise flavored spirit which is absurdly strong between 45 and 75% Alcohol by volume. It is named as “Green Fairy” due to it’s emerald green color. There is utilization of herbs in the preparation of this distilled liquor. Wormwood (Artemisia Absinthium), green aniseed and fennel (fennell) are the main herbs. Herbs such as hyssop, lemon balm, nutmeg, juniper, veronica, star anise and dittany was used by Henri-Louis Pernod to prepare his original Pernod Absinthe recipe. The herbs like calamus were used by some manufacturers which was thought to be psychoactive. The essential oil extract from the herbs is responsible for louche in Absinthe when iced water is poured over the sugar on the Absinthe spoon. As oils are not water soluble so they cause Absinthe to louche.

Absinthe Green Fairy and the Art World

Absinthe is famous for inspiring many artists and writers associated with the Bohemian culture of the Montmartre area of Paris. People know Vincent Van Gough, Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Charles Baudelaire, Edgar Degas, Ernest Hemingway and Oscar Wilde as Absinthe drinkers. Many writers and artists were benefited with the effects of Absinthe. A few paintings are also based on Absinthe and Absinthe drinkers.

Absinthe’s association with old Montmartre, the Moulin Rouge and the Bohemian sect, was simply the explanation that prohibition campaigners required. In 1915 the sale of Absinthe was made illegal due to it’s link with the murder of a family and the growing problem of alcohol addiction in France. Many countries banned it but it remained legal in the Czech Republic, the UK, Spain and Portugal.

The psychedelic effects of intaking the Green Fairy was due to the chemical thujone present in wormwood. Thujone was thought to be similar to THC in cannabis. However Absinthe is mainly alcohol, ethanol, and therefore only contains minute quantities of thujone. According to the research Absinthe is just as safe as any other strong liquor and the alcohol content in it can harm anyone not the thujone. One can get a lot of studies and articles on the subject. As it is twice strong than a vodka or a whisky so one must be careful about the amount while drinking it.

During the time of prohibition many people enjoyed buying and drinking vintage style Absinthe in Absinthe bars in the Czech Republic, served in the classic Absinthe large glassesand in surroundings decorated with vintage Absinthe posters. Today Absinthe is legal in many countries with controlled thujone levels and the United States only allows Absinthe with decent quantity of thujone.

Internet is the best way of getting Absinthe by the bottle or for ordering Absinthe essences.com) to make your own Absinthe Green Fairy to bottle at home. Real Absinthe and Absinthe essences contain the vital ingredient wormwood but some new Absinthes, produced for the US market, do not contain thujone.

To get a decadent drink one can mix Absinthe Green Fairy with champagne!

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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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