This strong alcoholic drink enjoyed the fame of a panacea in the 18th century, then it became a favorite drink of bohemia, and was banned in 1914. And only at the end of the twentieth century they remembered him again. All this, of course, is about absinthe, which gets its name from the key herb from which it is made - wormwood (Latin name Artemisia absinthium).

What is absinthe

Absinthe is an alcoholic drink made from wormwood and a number of other herbs (fennel, lemon balm, hyssop, mint, coriander). In fact, the recipe for the drink has always varied depending on the country and manufacturer, which each time affected the quality and taste.
Traditionally there are:

• absinthe suisse (considered the best variety, contains 68-72% alcohol);
• demi-fine (alcohol concentration 50-68%);
• ordinaire (contains 45-50% alcohol).

Absinthe contains significantly more alcohol than other alcoholic drinks. allows you to preserve the beautiful emerald color of the product and prevent the breakdown of essential oils. Meanwhile, it is not customary to use it in its pure form. And if diluted according to the rules, it will not be stronger than good wine.

Today, about 100 brands of absinthe are known, which are mainly produced in France, Switzerland, Spain, and the Czech Republic. As a rule, it is a green drink, although there are several Swiss varieties that are completely clear. It is believed that the best varieties of absinthe are made exclusively from natural ingredients, without artificial colors, and the drink gets its characteristic color from the chlorophyll secreted by their herbs.

Connoisseurs of the drink distinguish 2 types of absinthe: French or Swiss (considered the “successor” of the original recipe) and Czech or Bohemian (with a bitter taste, often made from artificial raw materials, without the use of herbs).

How it appeared

No other alcoholic drink is shrouded in such mystery as absinthe. This drink is named after wormwood, the shrub whose leaves form part of this vibrant drink. Lucretius also remembered the product made from wormwood. Also, records of the medicinal properties of wormwood were found in ancient Egyptian papyri dating back to 1550 BC.

The modern era of absinthe dates back to the 18th century, when a green alcoholic drink was created in the plant-rich Val de Traverse valleys of Switzerland, the key ingredient of which was wormwood. It is believed that the drink made from wormwood was invented by Madame Ernier and at first it was used exclusively as a medicinal remedy. At the end of the 18th century, the recipe for the drink was purchased by Major Dubier, who, together with his son-in-law, continued to produce absinthe, which had already gained popularity in Switzerland. Soon they learned about alcohol made from wormwood in France.

The main drink of bohemia

In the second half of the 19th century, artists and writers made absinthe an integral part of their bohemian life. It was very popular in France and the Czech Republic. Following the bohemians, people from other walks of life also became accustomed to the drink. Soon the “green fairy” (as the product was called) captivated the whole world and reached the shores of America. Oscar Wilde, Marcel Proust, Edgar Allan Poe, George Byron, Vincent Van Gogh, Arthur Rimbaud, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Ernest Hemingway and many others loved and regularly consumed this emerald potion. In those days it was believed that this was not an ordinary alcoholic drink that caused intoxication. Bohemians believed that the “green fairy” opened the mind, heightened sensuality and even revealed hidden talents. It was then that the myth was born that alcohol from wormwood supposedly has hallucinogenic properties.

Fairy or devil

Among the ingredients of this emerald drink is the substance thujone (from the essential oils of wormwood). And although, as chemists would say, the drink contains only traces of this substance, it was thujone that was the reason that absinthe was banned in most Western countries at the beginning of the twentieth century.

Temperance fighters have not liked absinthe, whose popularity was growing day by day, for a long time. But the last straw was the tragedy that occurred in 1905 in Switzerland. There the farmer killed his family, and then tried to commit suicide. And all this happened after drinking absinthe. In 1908, the “green fairy” was banned in Switzerland as a dangerous drink. At the same time, few people remembered that the killer farmer was an avid alcoholic who drank a lot of wine before drinking emerald. After the ban, the place of green alcohol was taken by pastis and other alcoholic drinks based on anise, but without wormwood.

The "green fairy" revival began in the 1990s; When importers in Great Britain realized that de jure this drink had never been banned in the country, traders imported the first batch of the drink from the Czech Republic. And in 2000, the first batch of absinthe since 1914 was produced in France.

Thujone: harm and benefit

But still, is the thujone contained in absinthe harmful and, according to some sources, causes hallucinations? To answer this question, it is first important to understand what thujone is. This substance is a compound found in the essential oils of wormwood. It is indeed neurotoxic, and its overdose can cause seizures and dementia. But absinthe lovers shouldn't panic. In fact, there are strict requirements limiting the concentration of thujone in a modern drink. Firstly, after distillation, very little of this substance remains in wormwood. Secondly, it is concentrated mainly in the stems of the plant, and the leaves are used to make the drink. After many studies, scientists have proven that the thujone content in absinthe is too low to cause hallucinations or other dangerous reactions. Well, perhaps the reason for this will be the alcohol contained in the drink.

In the modern “green fairy” the amount of thujone does not exceed 10 mg/kg, which is 10 times less than the concentration of the substance in the product of the early twentieth century sample.

Beneficial features

It was the war that helped people understand that absinthe is good for health. When French colonial troops entered North Africa, soldiers were unable to fight off malaria until someone realized that absinthe helped protect against infection. The drink not only treated, but also served as a preventive measure for the French, who were not accustomed to the exotic virus. It also protected against intestinal disorders, or more precisely, it helped destroy amoebas in contaminated food. And French soldiers played an important role in popularizing the drink. Returning home, they themselves ordered their favorite absinthe and introduced others to it. Researchers estimate that in the first decade of the 20th century, the French drank 6 times more “green fairy” than wine.

The beneficial properties of this drink are determined by its phytocomposition. Thus, thanks to herbal extracts, absinthe can be considered healing for:

• anemia;
• rheumatism;
• jaundice;
• women's diseases;
• lack of appetite;
• disorders of gastric secretion;
• excessive excitement;
• decreased libido;
• joint pain;
• bronchitis;
• arrhythmias;
• purulent wounds.

Also, this drink (taken in reasonable doses) can dilate blood vessels, relax muscles, and strengthen the immune system.

To treat diseases

If you mix about 30 ml of absinthe with a teaspoon of honey and 100 ml, you get an effective expectorant. For bronchitis, take this medicine 1 tbsp. l. after meal.

From 50 ml of “green fairy”, 1 tsp. liquid and 100 ml of water you can prepare a remedy for joint pain. The mixture is used to make compresses on sore spots. A preparation for removing keratinized skin on the heels is also prepared using a similar recipe.

A small amount of the drink will stop the development of infectious or colds. It can also be used to disinfect wounds, abscesses and ulcers.

How to drink correctly

In the 19th century, absinthe served as an aperitif. During this era, the so-called “green hour” (between 5 and 7 pm) became popular in Europe, when it was customary to drink absinthe.

There are several ways to consume this drink. Classic, or French (Swiss) requires drinking the drink from tall narrow glasses. A fifth of the vessel is filled with the “green fairy”. A special perforated spoon with a piece is placed on the glass. Cold water is poured through refined sugar and in this way the glass is filled to the brim. Pour slowly until the sugar is completely dissolved. The finished drink is drunk in one gulp.

The second method (Czech) is, one might say, the French method, but in reverse. First, water is poured into a glass, and absinthe is passed through refined sugar.

There is a third way to drink the drink. It is more spectacular and is accompanied by flames. The refined sugar pit is soaked in absinthe and set on fire. Drops of melted sugar drip into the green liquid through the same special spoon. Then add water and...

“Green Fairy”: how to cook it yourself

Buying absinthe today will not be a problem. This drink can be ordered in most bars. But in many cases it is very far from the one that Madame Ernier came up with. Although, if you stock up on all the necessary ingredients, you can prepare absinthe according to a 19th-century recipe yourself.

To do this, you will need 25 g of wormwood leaves (tops only, without stems), 50 g of anise, 50 g of fennel and 950 mg of alcohol (not weaker than 85%). The plants are poured with alcohol and left for 10 days, after which 450 ml of water is added to the mixture and distilled using a distiller (make sure that the herbs do not burn). The output will be approximately 950 ml of the substance. For aesthetics, strain the drink through gauze folded several times.

Today, absinthe is a legal drink in most countries of the world. They say that today's celebrities are also not averse to knocking back a glass or two of the emerald drink. There is information that among fans of absinthe are actor Johnny Depp, singers Eminem and Björk, and even former Czech President Vaclav Havel. But even today, when almost everything is known about the composition and properties of the “green fairy,” the spirit of mysticism does not leave her. For some, a vessel with liquid emerald is a symbol of romanticism, for others it is a devilish drink. And even today, not many can clearly answer what absinthe is: the Green Fairy or the Green Devil. Although, most likely, it is both at the same time - it’s all about the dose taken.

He was loved by such creative personalities as Van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, Baudelaire and Picasso. Absinthe is a drink with wormwood extract containing a huge proportion of thujone. It is thujone that is the main component due to which this drink is famous for its excellent effect. In addition, the alcoholic drink includes: mint, fennel, star anise, anise, lemon balm, Roman wormwood and other herbs.

It usually has an emerald green hue, but it can also be clear, yellow, blue, brown, red or black. To find out which country is the birthplace of absinthe, let’s delve into the history of past centuries.

History of absinthe

In 1792, the doctor Pierre Ordinier, guided by the words of a healer, restored the recipe for a healing potion from wormwood. This tincture was made as a medicine for all diseases, capable of improving the functioning of the digestive tract, increasing appetite and strengthening the immune system. Absinthe, or as it is otherwise called “Green Fairy” and “Green Witch”, has gained popular recognition for one reason - its label depicts a girl tempting a man. In those days, the drink was associated with these qualities.

In 1797, Ordinier's relative Henry-Louis Pernot created the very first plant for the production of a green drink in Switzerland. After which the European country began to be called the birthplace of absinthe. From that moment on, the production of the drink was increased several times, and sales increased every day.

However, the healing drink gained real popularity during the war in northern Africa. The French colonial wars involved large numbers of soldiers who suffered from malaria. Absinthe helped get rid of African diseases and was a wonderful prophylactic against malaria. Alcohol was also used to escape the amoebas that infested the dirty waters of Africa. Thanks to its beneficial properties, French troops were spared from intestinal disorders and ultimately conquered African lands.

In the middle of the 19th century, the “green fairy” became an ordinary drink. Alcohol is consumed as an aperitif for lunch, and in the evening it marks the transition to relaxation. There was even the term “green hour”, a time around 17-19 hours, when after drinking a glass of strong tincture a pleasant, relaxed mood was created.

By the eighties of the 19th century, the history of absinthe reached its highest peak. The popularity of the drink was on par with the popularity of wine. And by the beginning of the 20th century, the consumption of alcohol by French citizens increased several times compared to wine.

Absinthe taste

Real absinthe is quite bitter and strong in taste. The drink has a specific taste, similar to menthol cigarettes. Alcohol with a strength of 55% is available on sale. It is usually sweetened. These types of alcohol are made from a purified wormwood extract called thujone-free, which excludes the presence of essential oils. It is useless to expect special impressions from such “absinthe”. The only thing that can be noted is its softness of drinking, compared to vodka.

If you decide to buy absinthe or prepare it yourself, know that its strength must be at least 70%. Because it is precisely this concentration of alcohol that can retain the essential oils of the tart plant and recreate the real taste of absinthe.

In early times, the alcoholic drink was made very bitter. And if used incorrectly, it can cause nausea. Now many have already adapted to its use, and dilution with sweetened cold water has become the norm.

Always use moderation when consuming this green drink. And stories about the absence of a hangover in the morning, after a large amount of alcohol, are considered complete heresy.

Video on the topic

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.

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.

Error or something to add?

A drink made from wormwood is popular in almost every country. Many herbs are used to make it. It is not without reason that the tincture has become widespread, because it has a healing effect. Naturally, absinthe is alcohol, and therefore exceeding the dose is fraught with various complications. In other words, if you use the tincture wisely, the result will be positive.

How did absinthe come about?

This alcoholic drink has an interesting history of origin.

Tinctures containing wormwood were used in ancient times by the Egyptians and Greeks. Alcohol served as a remedy for jaundice, rheumatism and anemia.

But such drinking was different from the modern version of alcohol that everyone has heard about.

Some sources talk about the Enrio sisters, who in the 18th century came up with a green tincture that helped patients heal. According to another version, the inventor is considered to be the Frenchman Pierre Ordiner, who was a doctor. He also used alcohol quite successfully in his practice. Thanks to him, people liked the strong drink so much that it began to be mass produced.

After the recipe was purchased, Henri Dubier and his friend Henri-Louis Pernot began producing green alcohol. Their business began to develop well. Therefore, after a short period of time, successful entrepreneurs opened another plant. The brand under which the alcohol is produced is called “Pernod”.

Even the war in North Africa was not complete without green tincture. Absinthe helped French soldiers drive away illnesses, because there were plenty of them on the hot continent. Strong alcohol served as protection against various intestinal disorders, since the water was dirty and contained a lot of harmful microbes. Upon returning home, the soldiers continued to drink truly miraculous alcohol.

In the 19th century in France, it was considered normal to drink an alcoholic drink of such an unusual color. Even wine was not as in demand as he was. True, even then they began to speak badly of alcohol, since those who consumed it behaved quite inappropriately. Schizophrenia was often diagnosed. Although any alcoholic drink will lead to negative consequences if its dose is excessive.

How should you drink absinthe correctly?

The strength of the alcohol is quite strong. The average alcohol content is 70%.

It is made from:

• wormwood;
• calamus;
• fennel;
• anise;
• mint;
• lemon balm;
• angelica;
• licorice;
• parsley;
• coriander;
• chamomile;
• Veronica;
• white ash.

Wormwood is the main component.

The unusual effect of alcohol is explained by the presence of a substance such as thujone in wormwood.

If an alcoholic drink enters the body in too much quantity, then the substance becomes toxic.

Absinthe is available in four types - classic green, yellow, red and black. But the color of the drink does not affect the strength. A high concentration of alcohol is needed to retain the essential oils. If the alcohol strength is below 55%, then this alcohol cannot be called real absinthe.

It is worth knowing that this alcoholic drink can be drunk in different ways. Because of its bitter taste, methods have been invented to sweeten the tincture. There are three such methods - French, Czech and Russian. To drink the tincture, you will need a glass and a special absinthe spoon with holes.

In the first option, the following actions are carried out:

1. Pour alcohol into a glass.
2. Place a spoonful of absinthe on the edges of the dish and a piece of sugar on top.
3. Slowly pour water over the sugar until it dissolves and mixes with the absinthe.

The ideal proportion of tincture and water is 1:5. When the syrup gets mixed with alcohol, the essential oils are released. As a result, the drink turns white, while its tint will be greenish-yellow.

Using the French method, you can drink classic tinctures with 65-80% alcohol. If this figure is much lower, then not so much water will be needed; in extreme cases, it may not be used at all.

The Czech method is also no less interesting. Or rather, there are two options. One of them is characterized by burning sugar. Let's look at the steps step by step.

1. First, the spoon is installed.
2. Then sugar is added.
3. Then you should slowly pour absinthe on it until it’s all in the glass.
4. The sugar is set on fire.
5. You need to wait for the resulting caramel to dissolve into alcohol.
6. Three parts of water are poured in and mixed, after which the alcohol can be consumed.

1. Sugar is placed on a heated absinthe spoon.
2. Alcohol is poured slowly.
3. The drink is diluted with a small amount of water.

Although, if desired, you can omit adding water.

The most unusual option is Russian. And it is suitable for those who love thrills. The main thing is to act in order.

1. You will need two glasses.
2. The first should contain a tincture that is set on fire. There will be no problems with this, since the alcohol is quite strong. It is necessary to set fire to allow the composition to burn out slightly.
3. The dish with the drink is covered with another glass.
4. After the fire goes out, the liquid is poured into a second glass, and the one it was in is covered with a napkin and turned over.
5. The process of drinking the drink itself is unusual. A sip of alcohol is taken, and then using a cocktail straw, the aroma from the glass that was covered with a napkin is inhaled.

It should be said that the effect will be, in the literal sense of the word, amazing. But not everyone can do what is required.

Many will certainly be interested in the question of what exactly absinthe is drunk with. First of all, regular cold water is used. But juices from apples, cherries or oranges are also suitable. Orange goes well with anise. Apples and cherries are suitable to soften the bitterness. In addition, they give off a rather light and pleasant fruity aroma.

It is not advisable to drink alcohol, otherwise all the aftertaste will disappear. The same applies to snacks. They should be abandoned. The drink is made to be enjoyed. Of course, moderation is good in everything.

If you wish, you can make your own alcohol instead of buying it. There is nothing complicated in the process itself. The main thing is to stock up on the main ingredients - distiller, alcohol and fresh wormwood. The recipe is also easy to find.

Negative effect of alcohol

The drink became popular for a reason. Its effect was truly powerful. And it’s not just about the positive effect on the body. If the dose is increased excessively, then the drinker will experience completely different sensations.

If we compare absinthe intoxication and regular alcoholic intoxication, then there really are differences. In the first case, slightly blurry, unclear vision occurs. The drinker begins to perceive colors differently.

It is very difficult to distinguish small objects. And if you look at larger objects, they turn out blurry.

A person often feels cheerful. Or he is in a pleasant and calm relaxed state. He may laugh for no reason or become aggressive for no reason.

One of the effects is an almost complete absence of pain. Because of alcohol, a person does things that are considered stupid and incomprehensible. Moreover, such actions can offend others.

Some people have vivid memories of being drunk. But others may suffer from terrifying hallucinations and severe pain.

In principle, the effect of alcohol is explained by the individuality of each person, his mood, upbringing and the circumstances in which absinthe is drunk. Of course, the dose is also important. Measure is always welcome. If you abuse the tincture, you will definitely get a hangover. And if someone says otherwise, then he is mistaken.

The appearance of the so-called state of altered reality is provoked by thujone contained in wormwood. In large quantities it will turn out to be a strong narcotic and poison.

Due to thujone, a person suffers from hallucinations and convulsions. The nervous system is seriously affected.

If you drink alcohol for a long time and a lot, a dependence appears, which is called “absintheism syndrome.”

This condition is characterized by:

• depression;
• problems with movement coordination;
• insomnia;
• nausea;
• chills;
• epileptic seizures.

However, it cannot be argued that such changes in the body are caused by thujone. These are the symptoms of alcoholism in general. Therefore, it would be more correct to say that the syndrome arises from excessive quantity.

That is, ignoring the amount you drink will most likely lead to serious side effects.

The condition will be accompanied by:

• nightmares;
• problems falling asleep;
• chills;
• depression;
• numbness;
• psychosis;
• convulsive manifestations;
• nausea.

But still, the drink was invented to help people heal from serious illnesses. If it is used correctly, then the body will become truly healthier.

Thanks to alcohol, relaxation occurs, fever is eliminated and inflammatory processes disappear, blood vessels dilate, and appetite improves.

This product has useful properties:

• disinfectant;
• antispasmodic;
• anticonvulsant.

If you want to try the taste of real absinthe, then you should first study the information about what it should be like. The lower the strength of the alcohol, the more likely it is to contain dyes. But the most important thing is that you should never lose sight of, no matter how good alcohol is, its amount should not have a detrimental effect on your health. Otherwise, use turns into sabotage.

Absinthe's popularity peaked at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. So that you can imagine the scale of his fame and demand, it is enough to cite one interesting fact. At the beginning of the 20th century in France, more absinthe was drunk than wine. We can say that the popularity of this strong alcoholic drink made from wormwood bordered on mass insanity.

Then, from 1905 to 1915, laws were passed in Europe prohibiting not only the sale, but also the production of absinthe. This was done under the slogans of protecting people’s lives and health. It was said that the composition of this alcoholic drink in general and wormwood in particular cause hallucinations, lead to addiction, and also turn its lovers into drug addicts.

However, there is a version that the ban on the industrial production and sale of absinthe is primarily associated with the powerful lobby of winemakers, who were afraid of its wild popularity. After all, this automatically reduced their income from the sale of wine. truly amazing.

But nowadays this alcoholic drink is freely sold. So, what is absinthe made from today?

Compound

There is an opinion that absinthe is a simple alcohol-based tincture of wormwood. However, this point of view is wrong. In fact, this drink contains a much larger number of herbs and plant components.

Its classic composition includes:

• high-quality ethyl alcohol;
• clean water;
• plant components.

If everything is clear with the first two ingredients, then it is necessary to dwell in a little more detail on herbs and spices. In the mass public consciousness, absinthe is inextricably linked with wormwood. Indeed, this plant is the main component of this alcohol.

However, few people know about the existence of the so-called herbs of the Holy Trinity. In addition to wormwood, these include anise and fennel. It is these plant components that form the basis of absinthe.

In addition to them, it may include lemon balm, calamus, fennel, mint, licorice, angelica, coriander, white ash, speedwell, parsley, blue St. John's wort (hyssop) and chamomile.

It should be understood that there are many recipes for absinthe. The components included in the drink may vary. Only bitter wormwood, fennel and anise remain unchanged.

The recipes by which absinthe is produced in our time have remained practically unchanged.

But production technology has changed. These changes were aimed at minimizing the content of the substance thujone in the finished drink. After all, it is precisely this narcotic component, “thanks to” which absinthe once earned its notoriety.

There is an interesting fact. Wormwood is also the main component of vermouth.

Production Features

Modern industrial production of absinthe is not so different from what the process looked like at the beginning of the last century. Two main points can be highlighted.

Firstly, serious control has been introduced over the final concentration of thujone in the drink. Secondly, instead of the herbs themselves, their extracts and extracts are now used. In addition, now the drink is sometimes tinted with artificial colors.

Otherwise, the production scheme remained unchanged. First, an alcoholic herbal tincture is prepared. Then distillation is carried out. The resulting drink is tinted if necessary, bottled and sent for sale.

Simple enough. Anyone can make it themselves at home.