By: Julia Layton Updated: Mar 31, When absinthe — also known as the Green Fairy — was banned in France, Switzerland, the United States and many other countries in the early s, it had become associated with illicit behavior.
In fact, it was accused of turning children into criminals, encouraging loose morals and inspiring murders. That regular old alcohol received similar treatment during the Prohibition period in the United States turns out to be pretty apropos: We now know that properly manufactured absinthe — an anise-flavored, alcoholic drink — is no more dangerous than any other properly prepared liquor.
What about the tales of hallucinations , Oscar Wilde and his tulips, family massacres and instant death? Not absinthe's fault, technically speaking. Absinthe does have a very high alcohol content — anywhere between 55 and 75 percent alcohol by volume, which equates to about to proof. It makes whiskey's standard 40 percent 80 proof seem like child's play, which is why absinthe is supposed to be diluted. Absinthe is not a hallucinogen; rather its alcohol content and herbal flavor set it apart from other liquors.
Traditional absinthe is made of anise, fennel and wormwood a plant , and various recipes add other herbs and flowers to the mix. The anise, fennel and wormwood are soaked in alcohol, and the mixture is then distilled.
The distillation process causes the herbal oils and the alcohol to evaporate, separating from the water and bitter essences released by the herbs. The fennel, anise and wormwood oils then recondense with the alcohol in a cooling area, and the distiller dilutes the resulting liquid down to whatever proof the absinthe is supposed to be based on brand variations or regional laws.
At this point, the absinthe is clear; many manufacturers add herbs to the mixture after distillation to get the classic green color from their chlorophyll.
The chemical that's taken all the blame for absinthe's hallucinogenic reputation is called thujone, which is a component of wormwood. In very high doses, thujone can be toxic. It occurs naturally in many foods, but never in doses high enough to hurt you.
And there's not enough thujone in absinthe to hurt you, either. By the end of the distillation process, there is very little thujone left in the product.
Can Absinthe Make You Trip? Although absinthe after-effects do not include hallucinations, long-term alcohol abuse of any kind can lead to addiction and dependence. If you have a drinking problem or know someone who does, our Pompano treatment center can help. Call us at for more information about our drug treatment in Pompano Beach. After overcoming her own struggles with addiction, she began working in the treatment field in A part of the Banyan team since , Alyssa brings over 5 years of experience in the addiction treatment field.
Related posts. Can Eating Disorders Be Cured? Read more. Can Opioids Cause Depression? Get the help you need today at Banyan. Don't surrender your life to addiction, take control and get your life back today.
Our drug and alcohol addiction treatment centers have helped thousands of people empower themselves to take back control of their lives. And Parisians knew to find it under aliases, like Anis Delloso. Now that it's legal, bars and restaurants are opening with a hyperfocus on the spirit.
Maison Premiere evokes the New Orleans atmosphere, and its absinthe fountain is actually a replica of the one from Old Absinthe House. Seattle welcomed the opening of Absinthe Brasserie last summer, and Absinthe in San Francisco is proud of its namesake spirit as well.
Though the color depends on multiple factors, the traditional green comes from chlorophyll in the herbs used to make the alcohol. The original trifecta is anise, fennel and wormwood , but Brooklyn-made Doc Herson's has a bottle that's tinted red from the addition of hibiscus. And Letherbee's absinthe takes on a caramel tone after spending six months in new American oak casks.
You definitely don't have to play with matches here. In fact, you shouldn't. The Maison Premiere team says that lighting absinthe up is just a gimmick and that introducing fire will burn off the herbal subtleties.
But there's really no wrong way to drink it. When in doubt, listen to Engel, who advises not to "let any absinthe snobs tell you you're doing it wrong.
During In Good Spirits month, we're going behind the bar to find out what separates aperitifs from digestifs, which It cocktails the world's top bartenders crave and how to turn your home into the hottest speakeasy in town.
To-Dos allows Tasting Table members to store and remember all of the food and drink recommendations we send out each week. You've now added the To-Dos below to your personal list.
Happy eating! Thanks for Signing up. We sent you a verification email. Please verify to begin receiving our newsletter and using your account. Drinks Absinthe Minded It's time to set the record straight on this storied spirit, hallucination myths and all.
0コメント