What is absinthe? What is absinthe, what does it consist of, how to prepare it at home? Ingredients needed to make absinthe

Which type of absinthe to choose and why is it different colors? You need to know this in order to choose only high-quality alcohol. Read on to learn about the classification of this aristocratic drink.

In the article:

Absinthe as is

Absinthe (anise alcohol group) is a drink infused with strong alcohol with the addition of various herbs. The alcohol content in the finished product is 55-85%. The bitter taste comes from the main ingredient – bitter wormwood extract. It is the presence of artemisia absinthium in the recipe that allows us to determine that absinthe is real.

The peculiarity of wormwood is the essential oils present in it, which are rich in thujone. Thujone provides the well-known absinthe effect. Also during production can be used additionally:

mint;
liquorice;
fennel;
Melissa;
angelica and other herbs.

Modern varieties of absinthe

Currently, over one hundred varieties of absinthe have been registered. Most of them are hidden from the general public due to low production volumes. Conventionally, it can be classified by color. The most famous:

Absinthe "Verduant"

Absinthe green (absinthe)

A product of this color can be considered classic. It is also called the "green fairy". Color saturation can vary, from light to rich emerald. Natural dye – chlorophyll (plant origin). After a certain time, the natural color becomes lighter. To avoid lightening, manufacturers tint the finished product artificially. Almost every product line includes absinthe green color.

A prominent representative of the “greens” is Absenta Tunel (70%). A classic Spanish product with a complex herbal aroma, with notes of almond and cinnamon.

Calavera Skull Absinthe Blue

Blue absinthe

Often color is achieved artificially. use natural ingredients:

guarana;
blue lotus

Absinth King of Spirits

Yellow absinthe

Food coloring is used to make the amber-colored drink. In rare cases, the yellow color can be the result of a transformation from green as the drink ages (more precisely, the breakdown of chlorophyll). A worthy representative is Absinth King of Spirits. Strict adherence to manufacturing technology and the use of manual labor gives its manufacturers reason to claim that their product is the best and most expensive in the whole world.

Absinthe Red Tunel

Red absinthe

The addition of pomegranate extract gave the drink a rich ruby color and a piquant aftertaste. Sometimes dye is used. This technique can often be found in alcohol originally from Switzerland. You can pay attention to Absinthe Red Tunel (70%).

Absinthe Black Tune

Black (sometimes brown) absinthe

In this case, the roots of wormwood were used in production, and not its foliage or inflorescence as in other species. The addition of black acacia infusion gives the finished product an appetizing currant color, the taste becomes sweetish with the addition of berry notes. Absinthe of this type has a higher strength, but when consumed, connoisseurs note the incredible softness of the drink. Dye is very rarely used.

Absinthe Black Tunel - prepared on a natural basis, in compliance with centuries-old traditions. Bright multifaceted taste.

Absinthe Jacques Senaux Blue

Blue absinthe

Does not stand out with specific ingredients. The blue color is achieved by tinting. An aesthetically attractive drink is often used for preparation.

Color naturally affects the taste of the drink, but does not determine it. Also color is not an indicator of absinthe quality. When choosing an alcoholic product, you cannot focus only on color preferences. It is necessary to take into account many components (strength, thujone content, country of origin, etc.).

How to choose absinthe

A product with the same name differs in color, appearance of the bottle, cost, etc. And they all say absinthe. You need to carefully study the label: the name of the drink (the writing indicates the country of origin):

Absinthe – France (Absente in France is called a liqueur that imitates the original product; this is a targeted marketing ploy.)
Absinth – Czech Republic.
Absenta – Italy, Spain.

Let's continue to study the label:

“Absinthe refined” or “thujone-free” is purified absinthe that does not contain thujone (this substance is prohibited in a number of countries).
Proof – absinthe strength. 1 proof = 0.5% alcohol. That is, proof = 150, means 75% alcohol content (just need to divide by two).
“Distilled” is a method of distilling alcohol.
Mg/kg or ppm – thujone content. If such markings are not found on the label, do not immediately doubt the originality of the drink. This may mean that the thujone content is less than 10 mg/kg, which fully complies with EU absinthe standards.

Absinthe strength

Absinthe is known as a strong alcoholic drink, but it is difficult to indicate the exact alcohol content or how many degrees there are in absinthe. The indicator fluctuates in the region of 55-85°.

A real classic absinthe (absinthe) should be quite bitter and strong - at least 70%, because it is with these parameters that the essential oils of wormwood can be retained in alcohol. The strength is considerable, but it’s not for nothing that the name of absinthe can be translated from Greek as “not drinkable.” Contrary to the recommended strength, there is a wide range of absinthe available on the market with a strength equal to or lower than 55%. This means that the product is sweetened and free of thujone, like many artemisia essential oils. Naturally, the lightness of such alcohol when consumed is incomparable with other strong drinks, but you should not expect a classic effect.

When choosing absinthe, you should pay attention not only to its strength, but also to the thujone content. Its narcotic effects are similar to marijuana. In abnormal doses, thujone can cause hallucinations. That is why the popular alcoholic product is banned in many countries. And in a number of countries its production is possible only with additional purification. You can buy original absinthe in Duty Free; these stores are not subject to the laws of any state.

The strength of the drink initially placed it in the category of medicines. Absinthe was used for the prevention and treatment of viral diseases, as an analgesic and antispasmodic.

The strongest drink in the world (with the exception of pure alcohol) has acquired many legends and contradictory myths during its existence. But one fact is beyond doubt - absinthe is a drink worthy of attention.

Even those who have never drank absinthe have heard of it. The alcoholic drink became famous as a hallucinogen, and the hype around this high-proof alcohol at different times grew more than around wine and champagne. Let's figure out what absinthe is, what the harm and benefits of the drink are, how many degrees there are in absinthe, etc.

History of wormwood vodka Absent

The history of this alcoholic drink made from wormwood began at the end of the 18th century, when two Swiss healers produced it using their own moonshine still. The doctor Ordiner, with whom the fame of the composition as a medicine is associated, took on the distribution of the unusual substance: he promoted the alcoholic drink absinthe as a treatment for almost all existing diseases.

Thanks to the doctor, the green alcohol absinthe, under the guise of medicine, became so popular in the high society of Europe and among the common people that both old and young were “treated” with it, rightly or wrongly.

It was given to troops to prevent whooping cough, dysentery and malaria, water was disinfected with it, and young French women drank it undiluted: this is how they continued to fit into their corsets (and thereby earned themselves the then popular cirrhosis of the liver).

In which countries is absinthe banned now? Not in any way, but its distribution and production are closely monitored. Drinking it is not prohibited.

The real drink, absinthe, actually had medicinal properties. But what have we come to today? Let's look at what absinthe is in the modern world.

What is absinthe made from and how?

Despite the fact that the recipe two hundred years ago was quite accurate, now there is no single composition of this drink. Only two components remain unchanged in absinthe:

the substance thujone, which distinguishes absinthe from other types of alcohol and gives it a hallucinogenic effect. It is for this reason that the drink was nicknamed the “green fairy”;
collections of various herbs.

Types of absinthe differ more in composition than they are similar in it:

Absinthe strength in degrees varies from 54 to 86;
the color depends on the herbs that make up the drink and can be green, yellow, blue, black, red, brown, etc.;
the composition of absinthe herbs differs from manufacturer to manufacturer and may include anise, calamus, fennel, mint; licorice, lemon balm, angelica, white ash, coriander, chamomile, speedwell, parsley and other plants;
The thujone content can be high, low or even absent (thujone is found in wormwood). The method of preparing thujone is also different: different varieties of absinthe use the leaves, stem, seeds, and roots of wormwood.

Absinthe production

Now bitter absinthe is produced in different countries. Among the producers are Xenta, Jacques Senaux, Teichenne, King of Spirits, Red Absinth.

The recipe for the tincture of the above-mentioned Ordiner is considered classic. The composition of a dozen herbs is soaked in alcohol for several weeks, after which the alcohol is filtered and distilled. This recipe calls for fresh herbs with essential oils.

In modern recipes from large manufacturers, dry herbs are most often used, but when made at home, the herbs are crushed and infused separately.

The options vary in quality, aroma, color, sophistication of taste and health hazards.

Types of absinthe

The main classification of absinthe is as follows:

green, which is why he is called the “Green Fairy”. The color varies from rich emerald to light green. The dye here is natural - it is chlorophyll, contained in the leaves of almost all plants. Because of this, the color of this absinthe can change over time to yellow in the most natural way. Because of this, manufacturers can tint the drink with artificial green dye. This, by the way, applies to all other types of this alcohol: artificially coloring absinthe in different colors is a widespread method;
black or brownish. The natural color of the drink is given by black acacia Catechu, which adds berry notes and sweetness to the taste. Also, wormwood root is added to the composition of black absinthe, and not just the inflorescences and leaves. Usually the black variety is the strongest;
Yellow absinthe is made as such using food coloring or by the natural aging of chlorophyll in it. An example of the latter is the Czech “King of Spirits”, produced according to an old recipe by hand. This species has high and low thujone variants;
red absinthe has an original aftertaste, which is achieved using pomegranate extract. The strength of this drink is about 70 degrees;
Blue absinthe is no different in composition from green absinthe, it is simply tinted. Used to make cocktails;
transparent. In this version, all suspensions and leaves are removed from absinthe.

There is another classification of absinthe: it is divided into strong (55-65 degrees) and extremely strong (70-85 degrees) types. The former contain little or no thujone, the latter are original drinks based on old recipes and consist of purely natural ingredients.

Useful properties of the drink

Despite the fact that the drink was advertised as a medicine, its effectiveness is unstable and questionable. It has long been used for disease prevention and disinfection, but such use has now been discontinued. This is perhaps all that can be said about the benefits of absinthe.

Absinthe harm

This description will be more extensive:

Absinthe is alcohol, and a strong one at that. Therefore, we can safely include in the description of the harm from absinthe all the harm of drinking alcohol: cirrhosis of the liver, suppressed immunity, chronic gastrointestinal diseases, family breakdown, decreased intelligence and activity, as well as all the other hundreds of side effects of alcoholism;
under the influence of absinthe, a person’s tendency to commit crimes sharply increases. In countries where it was allowed, mortality increased sharply. France can serve as an example of this. Therefore, in Europe it was banned several times, after which it was revived elsewhere in a new form;
Absinthe is a drug disguised as alcohol. Thujone gives it a hallucinogenic effect. Like any drug, absinthe is addictive and destroys the central nervous system. The effect of thujone on the body is unpredictable.

No healing power, real or imagined, can outweigh the harm that this drink can bring to the human body and psyche.

How to get rid of absinthe cravings

Drug treatment clinics offer relief from addiction to any alcohol, including absinthe. Treatment comes down to the introduction of depressants into the body, which disable the person, and drugs that remove the body from post-binge drinking and relieve stress. The condition is also that the person has already stopped drinking.

The body is indeed cleansed of absinthe, but a person does not lose his tendency to binge drink even if he does. In addition, an attempt to remove the toxic substances of absinthe by introducing equally toxic depressants does not in any way cleanse the body of poison.

However, there is a way out. Our Narconon-Standard rehabilitation center uses only non-drug products and procedures that allow a person to completely get rid of cravings for absinthe and a predisposition to binge drinking. The center's telephone number is at the top of the page.

This program is a world record holder in the field of complete eradication of alcoholism and drug addiction: it has an indicator of 87% of people who have completely given up alcohol and returned to normal life (without any reservations such as the need for further medication, visits to psychologists, taking alcohol substitutes, etc. .).

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We will help motivate a person so that he has a desire to get rid of addiction.
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Absinthe– an alcoholic drink based on bitter wormwood extract. It is also known as "green fairy" or "green snake", which refers to the fact that the drink has an emerald green color due to the presence of chlorophyll.

It got its name due to its high alcohol content; from Greek, the word “absinthe” is translated as “undrinkable.”

Absinthe is the strongest drink, if you do not take into account pure alcohol.

The first mention of absinthe dates back to Ancient Egypt, around 1500 BC. At that time, it was a drink made from wormwood leaves and flowers infused with alcohol or wine. It was used exclusively for medicinal purposes. Absinthe has always been more than just an alcoholic drink or medicine. Thus, there was a tradition according to which the winner had to drink a glass of wormwood drink as a sign that even glory has a bitter taste.

The history of the origin of this drink in its modern form begins in Switzerland in 1792 in the city of Couva. The Hernier sisters, who were involved in the preparation of medicinal products, worked on the creation of wormwood-anise tincture, which they called “Bon Extrait d’Absinthe”. Then they began to sell it as a medicinal elixir. According to other information, the absinthe recipe was invented by the doctor Pierre Ordiner. He recommended that his patients take this elixir for almost all diseases.

Then the recipe for the drink was bought by Henri Dubier, who established the production process together with his friend. Since the elixir sold very well, it was decided to expand its production. Soon, Dubier's friend, Henri-Liu Pernod, opened the Pernod factory. The drink has gained popularity both in France and around the world. Even French soldiers used absinthe as a preventative against malaria and dysentery.

Absinthe became increasingly popular not only among soldiers, but also among civilians. At the beginning of his history he belonged to the class of expensive drinks and was considered elite alcohol. This was the so-called “golden era” of absinthe. Thanks to its special taste, the drink quickly captivated French women. Unfortunately, women drank it undiluted, which negatively affected their health. The taste of absinthe is quite pleasant; connoisseurs often compare it to the taste of menthol cigarettes.

Admirers of absinthe claim that even white wine seems “unclean” after it.

In the 60s of the 19th century, due to cheaper production and deteriorating quality, absinthe turned into a drink for the working class. Reducing the costs of its production was more a necessity than a whim of the manufacturers themselves. At this time, winemakers noted the infection of the famous French vineyards with diseases, which led to a rapid rise in the price of wine. Since absinthe was produced from wine alcohol, due to a poor grape harvest, it was decided to make it from industrial alcohol. This replacement made it possible to further reduce the cost of producing the drink by 7-10 times. So absinthe turned into “alcohol for the poor”; it was served in taverns, where workers, as a rule, ate.

Fortunately, the drink soon returned to its former glory. It began to be considered the most extravagant and dangerous alcohol. A whole culture of spectacular drinking has formed around absinthe. This drink quickly became a necessary component of youth parties. The hallucinogenic properties of absinthe began to bring great profits to its manufacturers.

At one time they tried to ban this drink because it had a very strong effect on human health. Absinthe addiction has been compared to drug use.

It has been proven that thujone, which is part of absinthe, is a highly hallucinogenic substance, and the drink itself has narcotic properties similar to the effects of marijuana.

In connection with this, health organizations in many countries became interested in absinthe. Thus, in the USA it was decided to sell exclusively purified drink. It has been proven that if absinthe is purified from thujone, it will lose its hallucinogenic properties.

Composition of the drink

Absinthe belongs to the group of anise drinks. It contains wormwood, anise, fennel, mint, chamomile, hyssop and other herbs.

Thujone, considered the main component of absinthe, is a substance derived from wormwood. It has hallucinogenic properties.

Absinthe, which is also part of absinthe, gives the drink a noticeable bitterness.

Types of absinthe

Absinthe is usually classified by color. So, there is yellow, emerald, as well as brown or black absinthe.

There are also strong (70%-85% alcohol) and weak (about 55% alcohol) absinthe.

How to do it at home?

Absinthe can be made at home.

For this we need 1.75 liters of alcohol, 3 tsp each. wormwood and angelica root, as well as anise seeds, coriander, 16 cardamom pods. Wormwood is infused in alcohol for 48 hours. You can infuse it cold or hot. To speed up the infusion, the mixture can be heated in a water bath. Then the indicated spices and herbs are added to the wormwood tincture and infused for 7 days. Next, you need to distill the resulting tincture and filter. The result is approximately 1.25 liters of absinthe with a strength of 65%. Distilled absinthe has a transparent color, which is not entirely correct. It needs to be given an emerald color by adding a little crushed mint, wormwood, lemon balm, anise, and fennel to the drink.

Homemade absinthe is not specially purified, so it retains the thujone.

A drink prepared at home will be exactly as it was intended at the beginning of its history. But it is very important to carefully adhere to the recipe for making absinthe and in no case change the proportions. It is not recommended to replace alcohol with vodka or moonshine., as this will spoil the taste of the drink.

All ingredients are absolutely accessible, herbs can be bought at any pharmacy. Preparing absinthe does not require much time.

How to drink correctly?

Absinthe is a very tasty drink if you drink it correctly. All the rules for its use boil down to reducing bitterness, as well as providing the process itself with maximum entertainment. There are several ways of consumption that allow you to fully enjoy its taste.

Absinthe is often consumed undiluted, although this is not easy, since not everyone will like its specific taste. Before drinking, absinthe is cooled to 0 degrees Celsius and then drunk in one gulp. Absinthe, as a rule, is not eaten as a snack, but if desired, it can be combined with dark chocolate, citrus fruits and even seafood.

In what glasses is it customary to serve absinthe? The drink belongs to the aperitifs, it should be drunk from small narrow glasses.

French method involves using a spoon with holes. A piece of refined sugar is placed in a spoon, and then it is placed on top of the glass, and ice water is poured over the sugar. The taste of the drink becomes softer; it is also believed that water with sugar can enhance the effects of thujone, but scientists question this statement.

Czech method drinking absinthe is considered the most spectacular and exciting; it is also known as the “fire method”.

To begin with, a quarter glass is filled with absinthe, as in the French method, a spoon with sugar is placed on the glass, and then set on fire. How to properly set fire to absinthe? If a spoon is used, the sugar is set on fire with a match or lighter. In this case, it is necessary to use glasses with thick walls. Under the influence of fire, the sugar begins to melt, and its drops fall into the glass. After all the sugar has burned, the contents of the glass are thoroughly mixed with the same spoon, after which the absinthe is diluted with ice water to soften the taste.

The Czech method is considered both the most popular and the most dangerous. If you do not light the sugar correctly, the flame can easily spread to other objects.

In Russia people drink absinthe together with sugar syrup. Sugar is diluted with water 1:2 and then mixed with absinthe. This method allows you to soften the taste of the drink in a short time. Sometimes the Russian method also involves setting fires. Undiluted absinthe is set on fire and covered with a glass. After that, the absinthe is poured into another container, and the glass is turned over, pushing a straw under it. The whole point of the method is to first slowly inhale the absinthe vapor through a straw, and then drink it in one gulp.

Beneficial features

The beneficial properties of absinthe are due to the herbal extracts that make up its composition. Initially, the drink was intended as a medicine.

Even small doses of absinthe cause severe intoxication, so it is recommended to consume no more than 30 grams in one evening.

The drink stimulates digestion and also increases appetite. Sometimes a little absinthe was added to the wine to make it even more intoxicating.

In ancient times, absinthe was even considered a drink for all diseases.

Use in cooking

In cooking, absinthe is used to prepare alcoholic cocktails. “Green Fairy” goes well with cola, juices, and tonic.

A popular cocktail is " Sweet contrast" To prepare it we need absinthe, berry syrup, apple juice, ice. The juice is mixed with syrup and absinthe, and ice is placed on top.

Absinthe goes great with cappuccino. In order to prepare a cocktail with this coffee drink, you need to pour absinthe into a glass and add sugar to it. After which the glass of absinthe is set on fire, the burning drink is poured into a glass of cappuccino. The cocktail should be drunk in one gulp.

It is considered a very interesting drink cocktail based on gin or vodka. It is prepared from gin, rum, absinthe, cola, and lemon juice. To begin with, pour 20 ml of rum, gin, absinthe into a glass, then pour 30 ml of cola into one side of the glass, and 30 ml of juice into the other. The cocktail is set on fire and a little cinnamon is added.

Absinthe is also used to prepare some dishes. Its bitter taste goes well with meat dishes. It is also used to prepare savory sauces. It goes well with poultry and game.

Absinthe benefits and treatment

The benefits of absinthe are rather dubious.

Today, the drink is not sold in its pure form due to its hallucinogenic properties.

Hippocrates used it as a medicine. He recommended using absinthe to treat rheumatism, as well as jaundice and anemia. Also in Ancient Greece, absinthe was used for menstrual pain and to stimulate labor.

Modern medicine does not recognize these properties of the drink and does not use it for medicinal purposes.

Harm of absinthe and contraindications

The drink can cause harm to the body due to individual intolerance or excessive consumption. Absinthe is not recommended for use by children, pregnant or lactating women.

About which there are many legends. In some of them it is considered a poison, and the ability to cause hallucinations is attributed to it. In other legends, the drink appears as something unusual, with a unique taste.

Invention of absinthe

Wormwood tinctures were used back in Ancient Egypt. At that time they were used as a medicine. Moreover, they were not available to every person.

In Ancient Greece, wormwood tinctures were also used. Hippocrates recommended their use for jaundice, anemia and rheumatism.

But the ancient wormwood tinctures were still far from the drink that is now called absinthe. There are several versions about his invention. According to one of them, the drink was invented by the Enrio sisters at the end of the 18th century. They gave the tincture the name “Bon Extrait d’Absinthe”. Its use helped cure many diseases.

But there is another version of the invention of this drink. According to it, at the end of the 18th century it was developed by the French physician Pierre Ordiner. At that time he lived and worked in Switzerland, in a small village called Cove. The doctor used the tincture he invented to treat his patients. But there is an opinion that Ordiner did not come up with anything new, but used the recipe of the Enrio sisters. He managed to popularize the drink, so the invention of absinthe became associated with his name.

The tincture has become widespread. It was sold in small bottles. The label depicted a girl with seductive curves standing in a frivolous pose. The drink was called "La Fee Verte", which translates as "The Green Fairy".

Start of absinthe production

A few years later, entrepreneur Henri Dubier bought a recipe for absinthe. He and his friend Henri-Louis Pernot established the world's first industrial production of the drink. Their small factory was opened in Switzerland.

The drink was popular and sold in large quantities. Therefore, seven years later, friends opened a second plant in Pontarlier, France. Over time, this enterprise became the main center for the production of absinthe. The plant was named Pernod. The drink began to be produced in large quantities. Its sales went all over the world. By the way, this alcoholic drink is still produced under the Pernod brand.

The rise of absinthe

But the real popularity of the drink came during military operations in northern Africa. A huge number of soldiers were drawn into the colonial wars launched by France. Military personnel were exposed to African diseases. It turned out that green absinthe coped well with them. It helped overcome illnesses and was used for prevention.

In addition, it turned out that absinthe is an excellent means of getting rid of amoebas and microbes contained in dirty water. Thanks to this, French soldiers avoided intestinal disorders. We can say that absinthe helped them capture African territories. After this he became very popular in France. The soldiers, having returned to their homeland, began to order their favorite drink from the cafe.

In the middle of the 19th century in Paris the question no longer arose: “What is absinthe?” After all, it has become a common drink. It was completely normal to drink absinthe at home before dinner as an aperitif or in the evening to shake off the burden of the day. The period from 17 to 19 hours even began to be called the “green hour”. At this time, it was supposed to drink a portion of the emerald drink and relax.

At the end of the 19th century, the popularity of absinthe reached its apogee. It began to be consumed as often as wine. And already at the beginning of the 20th century in France, absinthe surpassed it in popularity. They drank 6 times more green drink than wine.

Then absinthe got a bad reputation. They began to call it a drink that drives you crazy and plunges you into alcoholism. This is quite natural. After all, any substance can harm the body if consumed in excessive quantities. Therefore, cases of schizophrenia began to occur in those who drank absinthe uncontrollably.

The effects of absinthe on the body

Indeed, the green drink produces a strange effect that was so valued by writers and artists of the past. The explanation for this effect on the body is that absinthe is a tincture of wormwood. And this plant contains thujone. This substance has medicinal properties in small quantities, but becomes poisonous in large quantities. Absinthe preparation technology reduces the harmful effects of thujone. It is worth noting that this substance is found not only in wormwood. It is also present in sage, tansy, and thuja.

Absinthe is an alcoholic drink, but the state that its consumption causes is slightly different from ordinary intoxication. It gives great lightness, cheerfulness, euphoria.

Absinthe is banned

Over time, this drink gained a foothold. The reason for this was the manufacturers who added nickel and antimony to it. These substances gave the drink a shimmering color and opalescent hue, which were considered fashionable at the time.

Alcoholics drinking absinthe in unbridled quantities also contributed to the deterioration of its reputation. Inappropriate behavior caused by drinking the tincture was attributed to the effects of wormwood, forgetting that the composition also included 70% alcohol. They began to blame absinthe for all the madness, not taking into account that any alcohol causes such an effect.

The first country to ban the use of the “cursed potion” was Belgium. This happened at the beginning of the 20th century. It was then banned in a number of other countries, including France.

For a long time, the production, sale and consumption of absinthe was not allowed. It wasn't until 2004 that the laws prohibiting the drink were repealed. But modern manufacturers are obliged to comply with standards for the content of thujone in absinthe. The amount of this substance should not exceed 10 mg/kg. This is ten times lower than in the “cursed potion” of the 19th century.

Drinking culture

Absinthe is a drink that has a strong bitterness and high strength. It contains approximately 70-80% alcohol. Some individuals believe that absinthe is a liqueur. They are wrong. There is only one answer to the question “is absinthe a liqueur or a liqueur?” It's completely obvious. Absinthe - wormwood tincture.

It is not customary to use it in its pure form. There are several options

According to one of them, to prepare a portion of the drink you will need a narrow and tall glass. It needs to be filled with wormwood tincture by 1/5. A special spoon for absinthe is placed on top of the edges of the glass. It looks like a miniature spatula with shaped holes. Lump sugar is placed on top of it. Cold water is poured through it in a thin stream. You can use regular mineral water. Water should be poured to the edge of the glass. Ideally, the sugar should have time to dissolve during this process. A glass of prepared absinthe is drunk in one gulp.

The Czech method involves the reverse sequence in preparing the drink. So, first, cold water is poured into a glass. Then an absinthe spoon with a piece of sugar on top is placed on its edges. Through it, wormwood tincture is poured drop by drop.

There is a third way to prepare the drink. Absinthe is poured into a glass. A piece of sugar is moistened in it. It is placed on a spoon and set on fire. Melting, the sugar flows into the glass. Finally, cold water is added. If desired, it can be replaced with citrus juice.

Absinthe from the store

Today, quite a few brands of absinthe are produced. It's not easy to understand them. It is recommended to avoid absinthe with an alcohol content of less than 70%. After all, it is precisely this percentage that prevents essential oils from disintegrating. Dyes are usually added to wormwood tincture with an alcohol content of 45%. Thus, a good absinthe is one that contains at least 70% alcohol.

There are emerald drinks in bottles whose labels say “thujone-free”. This indicates that there is no thujone in the composition. Therefore, this is not a tincture of wormwood, but an imitation. Such drinks consist of dyes, sweeteners, and flavorings that create the illusion of absinthe.

When purchasing, you should pay attention to the thujone content. Its recommended amount is 10 mg/kg. However, in some stores you can find absinthe that exceeds this standard. Such drinks should be consumed with caution, no more than two glasses per evening.

Classification of absinthe by color

The classic color of the drink is green. Such absinthe is present in the product line of every manufacturer. Its shades can vary from light green to emerald.

Amber-colored absinthe has a mild taste. It is considered an elite drink because it is double purified during the production process.

Ruby-colored absinthe - wormwood tincture with pomegranate extract. It has an original aftertaste.

Absinthe also comes in a dark brown color. In the process of preparing this drink, wormwood roots are used, not leaves. Black acacia infusion is also added to it. The taste of this drink contains sweet tones.

Classification of absinthe by strength

Preparing absinthe

You can not only buy the drink in the supermarket, but also prepare it yourself. It's pretty simple.

To make absinthe you need a distiller, alcohol and fresh wormwood. These are the main components. The process has several options.

According to Odinier-Pernod's recipe, in addition to wormwood, fennel and anise are also used. The herbs are soaked in alcohol and left for 7-10 days. Then everything is boiled in a distiller. The resulting alcohol with herbal infusion can be flavored. This is achieved by adding mint essence or other herbs. Finally, the drink is filtered and bottled.

According to a recipe from 1855, to obtain 1 liter of absinthe you will need:

wormwood leaves - 25 g;
anise seeds - 50 g;
fennel seeds - 50 g;
alcohol 85% - 950 ml.

Leaves and seeds are soaked in alcohol and left for at least 7 days. Then 450 ml of water is added to them. The resulting mixture is distilled through a distiller. This must be done until there is nothing left in the flask except herbs and seeds. The amount of distillate at the outlet is 950 ml. It needs to be filtered through a napkin. The drink is ready.

Benefits of absinthe

Drinking tincture in small quantities has a beneficial effect on the functioning of our body. After all, what is absinthe? This is a drink made with medicinal herbs.

Its use helps to relax, relieves heat and inflammation, dilates blood vessels, improves appetite. Absinthe can be used as a disinfectant, antispasmodic, and anticonvulsant. Its use helps in the prevention of viral diseases.

Absinthe harm

Drinking this drink in moderation is not harmful to health. However, excessive passion for it can have dire consequences. Absinthe contains thujone, a toxic substance. When it enters the human body in quantities exceeding the norm, general excitement occurs and consciousness changes. It is even possible to experience hallucinations. But in tinctures produced by well-known manufacturers, the amount of thujone is strictly controlled.

In addition, do not forget that absinthe is an alcoholic drink. Excessive use of it can result in a banal hangover.

Myths about absinthe

There are many myths about the mysterious drink. Here are some of them.

Absinthe is produced only in green color. This statement is misleading. Emerald green absinthe is a classic version of the drink. But yellow, red, and brown varieties are also produced.
Drinking absinthe destroys brain cells. The effect of wormwood tincture on the brain is equivalent to the effect of any other strong alcohol.
Drinking absinthe causes hallucinations. This statement is associated with thujone, which is part of the drink. Indeed, in large quantities this substance causes hallucinations. But in modern absinthe its content is controlled by European standards. If they are followed, the appearance of a hallucinogenic effect is impossible. However, moderation should be observed in the use of absinthe, like any other alcoholic drink.

Absinthe– an alcoholic drink with a strength from 50 to 89.9%! The most important component of absinthe is wormwood, the essential oils of which contain a large amount of thujone.

Wormwood is known to cause a euphoric and, in large doses, a hallucinogenic state. It is thanks to these properties that absinthe has become so popular.

What is absinthe

Thujone or monoterpine (chemical formula: C10H16O) is a colorless substance found in wormwood. It has a characteristic smell reminiscent of menthol, which is the main element due to which absinthe is famous for its hallucinogenic effect.

To give a more refined taste, some manufacturers add to absinthe: Roman wormwood, anise, fennel, calamus, mint, lemon balm, licorice, angelica and some other herbs.

It is very easy to distinguish classic absinthe from parody:

Pay attention to the composition; it must indicate the amount of thujone per liter, for example: 10 ml/l. The bigger, the better".
Ideal if made on the basis of grape alcohol, but not critical.
Absinthe is not a liqueur.
The strength of real absinthe is always higher than or equal to 50%.

Drinking absinthe in its pure form is almost impossible; to do everything right and enjoy the drink, Shake recommends reading.

Absinthe classification

Fortress
According to the generally accepted classification, absinthe can be divided into two categories: high-strength drinks - 50-65 degrees and extremely high-strength drinks - containing 65-89.9% alcohol.
In the eyes of true connoisseurs, only the extreme category is capable of retaining the essential oils of wormwood, which will undoubtedly affect the result of drinking.
Color
Thujone content level
Place of manufacture
Manufacturer

There are four types of absinthe based on color.

Green (from light green to emerald)
Classic (chlorophyll) color of absinthe; yellow (amber) – obtained due to the gradual “aging” of chlorophyll cells.
Red (light ruby)
Achieved by adding pomegranate extract to the drink.
Black (dark brown)
In production, chlorophyll-free roots of wormwood and dark infusion of black acacia are used.
White Absinthe (clear)
During the period of prohibition, there was the so-called white or “secret” absinthe (“La Bleue”) - a drink containing thujone, but for the purpose of camouflage, devoid of its characteristic color due to slightly modified manufacturing technology.

It should be borne in mind that in the modern absinthe industry, the desired color can be given to the drink through the use of food coloring.

Absinthe Antitoxin in the skull, 89.9% strength!

According to the level of thujone content

Absinthe with high thujone content
25-100 mg/liter.
Low in thujone
1.5-10 mg/liter.
Thujone free

Place of manufacture: in which country is absinthe better?

Switzerland
It produces predominantly extremely strong absinthe, highly saturated with thujone, but in very limited, actually non-commercial quantities.
Czech
Primarily specializes in extremely strong varieties with varying degrees of thujone saturation, produced in huge quantities.
Spain
It doesn’t just produce absinthe on an industrial scale, but tries to please both lovers of a weaker drink with a low thujone content, and their opponents.
France
The second homeland of absinthe, France, stands apart. Although the various sizes of distillates produced there are formally considered absinthe, this is done mainly out of respect for the contribution of this country to the process of creating and distributing the drink.
As you know, French manufacturers have completely abandoned the use of wormwood in their products, replacing it with star anise, which makes the drinks they offer only semblances of absinthe.

There are, however, absinthe brands containing thujone such as “La fee” and “Lucid”, which are positioned as being produced in France. But at the same time, the first of them is produced by the British company Green Utopia, and the second by the American company Viridian Spirits LLC.
Other countries
Secondary countries producing absinthe or drinks similar to it in content are: Italy, Germany, USA and the Netherlands.
In particular, a curious phenomenon was the “Liqueur d'Absinthe” sold in Amsterdam, containing 26 milligrams of thujone per liter, whose production is attributed to the French brand “Francois Guy”.
Russia, Ukraine and Bulgaria are also trying to join the club of absinthe-producing countries.

History of absinthe production

Speaking about famous brands of absinthe, it’s worth starting with a short overview of the enterprises that produced the drink, so to speak, in its past life, that is, from the time of its creation (the end of the 18th century) until its almost universal ban (the beginning of the 20th century).

Among the leading manufacturers and brands of that time, in addition to the pioneer in this industry - the company Pernod Fils, mention should be made of such dinosaurs of the absinthe industry as Fritz Duval Dubied Père & Fils, A. Vichet, la Cressonnee", "Terminus", "A. Junod", "Cousin Jeune", "L. Lemercier" & "Duval", "Oxygenee" and "Kübler absinthe".

Moreover, most of them were in one way or another connected with the Pernot family or with the French region of Pontarlier.

The appearance of the Pernod Fils brand in Pontarlier took place thanks to Major Daniel Henri Dubier, who in 1797 bought the recipe for wormwood mixture from its creators - the Henriot sisters from the Swiss Couvet, and his son-in-law, the Swiss Henri-Louis Pernod, who put the production of the drink on a factory basis.

The extreme popularity of Pernod Fils is evidenced by the fact that by the end of the 19th century the company was producing 30,000 liters of the drink daily.

In 1798, one of the closest relatives of the house of Dubier/Pernod, Fritz Duval, opened his own business in Couva, calling his brainchild: “Fritz Duval Dubied Père & Fils”.

In turn, in Pontarlier there were factories of such famous absinthe producers as A. Vichet, la Cressonnee", "A. Junod", "Cousin Jeune" and "Terminus".

The fate of the drink, produced under the Oxygenee brand, whose advertising featured the optimistic phrase: “This is great,” is interesting. After the ban on absinthe was lifted, this brand reappeared on the shelves. But since current French absinthe does not contain wormwood, the revival of Oxygenee turned out to be very conditional.

Another thing is the Swiss brand “Kübler absinthe”, founded in 1863, banned along with other brands in 1910, and again revived by the great-grandson of the company’s founder after the re-legalization of absinthe.

Swiss absinthe: popular brands

Swiss La Bleu– 68 degrees, 25-35 mg of thujone per liter, grown from smuggled white absinthe.
Logan Films– 68 degrees, 10 mg of thujone per liter.

Absinthe from Swiss La Bleu

Czech absinthe: popular brands

Hill's absinth– 70 degrees, 1.5 mg of thujone per liter, it was this drink, despite the absence of a significant number of minor ingredients in it, that ushered in the era of re-legalization of absinthe.
Staroplzenecky Absinth– 70 degrees, 10 mg of thujone per liter, according to the manufacturer, the drink is made according to the traditional recipe of Napoleonic times.
King of Spirits Original– 70 degrees, 10 mg thujone per liter and King of Spirits Gold – 70 degrees, 100 mg thujone per liter, both versions of the drink are yellow absinthe.
Prague Absinth– 70 degrees, the amount of thujone per liter is significantly kept silent.
Logan 100 by Logan Absinthe– 70 degrees, 100 mg of thujone per liter.
Absinth Beetle– 70 degrees, 30 mg of thujone per liter.
Green Magic– 70 degrees, 59.3 mg of thujone per liter.
Teichenne Absinth
Zelena Muza– 70 degrees, 10 mg of thujone per liter.
Absinthe Original- 70 degrees, 10 mg of thujone per liter.

Absinthe from Hill's absinth

Spanish absinthe: popular brands

Xenta– 70 degrees, 35 mg of thujone per liter, recently also produced in Italy.
Xenta Superior– 70 degrees, 35 mg of thujone per liter, this modification is distinguished by less anise, elegant packaging design and the presence of a sprig of wormwood in each bottle.
Deva 70% variety of Deva Absenta
Absenta Serpis– 70 degrees, up to 30 mg of thujone per liter.

So, there is a lot of choice. If we take into account brands of absinthe that are less common or do not meet our criteria, then it is much larger.

Shake It Up was not intended to warn anyone against drinking this alcoholic drink, much less to advertise it. Therefore, the answer to the question: “To drink or not to drink?” depends entirely on your decision.

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