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Absinthe: The Green Fairy © Wondra Vanian Absinthe was once the beverage of choice for 19th century alcoholic bohemian elitists like Baudelaire, Rimbaud, Van Gogh, and Picasso. This "madness in a bottle" was said to bring inspiration, which is probably why the majority of people who sang its praises were poets and artists. The origins of Absinthe can be traced back to a late 18th century French doctor named Pierre Ordinaire. Ordinaire was prescribing an herbal remedy for his patients that was made out of a combination of wormwood, anise, fennel, hyssop (and a few other herbs) distilled in alcohol. At the time wormwood was often considered a treatment for rheumatism, jaundice, menstrual pains, and used as an aide in child birth. Ordinaire assumed his little concoction worked well for these ailments because his patients kept coming back for more... Ordinaire's "cure" eventually made its way to Henri-Louis Pernod. In 1805, he opened a distillery (The Pernod Distillery is still producing a legal Absinthe-like product called Pastis.) and "The Green Muse" became a local curiosity in France. Supposedly, Absinthe causes epileptic convulsions, blindness and delirium. The "Green Fairy" has been outlawed in almost every country since 1912 because of these "supposed" effects. Most of the research done on the adverse effects of Absinthe, though, was at the urging of Prohibitionist forces so the results might have been a little biased. (Of course, the researchwas also done on lab rats and mental patients...) There hasn't been that much research done on the effects of Absinthe since then, but research that has been done contradicts 19th century findings. In 1975, research proved that Absinthe kills four out of five bacteria. Another study shows that extracts of wormwood could produce "CNS cholinergic receptor binding activity" that actually improve cognitive function.  Prohibitionists were eager to see Absinthe outlawed because they thought it was the major cause of laziness, immorality and moral degeneracy in France. The stooped postures and glazed expressions of big time Absinthe drinkers probably didn't help...Prohibitionists looked at Wilde, Verlaine, Degas and Poe and saw the corruption of the French race. What they didn't stop to consider was that these guys were also major addicts who smoked opium and everything else they could get their hands on too. So why are so many people today (especially the gothie type) today drawn to Absinthe? Well, because it's illegal, for starters. It's been deemed too dangerous for general consumption and that gives it a mythological reputation that people can't resist. It's rebellious, it's wicked and that means it has to be good. There's also the decidedly Gothic aspect of belonging to another time. People who feel stifled by their own time are more likely to be drawn to things of other eras. (Ever been to a club and seen someone in a full ball gown or a ruffled poet's shirt?) Even during its prime, though, Absinthe was connected with corrosion and that seems to attract people as well. They're drawn to Absinthe the same way they're drawn to the crumbling ruins of castles and stories of insanity. Interested in trying Absinthe? Well, it's completely legal in Spain, Sweden, Portugal, New Zealand, Germany, the Czech Republic, Canada and more recently, Britain. Absinthe bought in these countries (with the exception of Britain) even contain thujone, a by product of the wormwood, which is technically the illegal ingredient. You can order it online at Sebor Absinth, Absente, Bar Absinthe, Absinthe Online and various other places on the web. Worried about getting caught buying something that may be illegal in your country? No problem. Make your own: Absinthe Recipes Got your Absinthe? Ok, here's how you drink it: First, pour yourself an once or so of the "Green Goddess." Now put an Absinthe spoon (a spoon with slits in it) over the glass with a sugar cube on it. Dribble COLD water over the sugar cube and let it dissolve into the Absinthe. (This will make it go from emerald to an opaque color.) Unless you're very, very brave, don't gulp Absinthe. It's a "sipping drink" for a very good reason. Not only is Absinthe extremely bitter (that's the wormwood) but it's also 140 to 180 proof.  |
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