Absinthe: The Green Fairy

Absinthe is arguably one of the most controversial alcoholic beverages. Absinthe originated long ago in the mythical hills of France. It is a drink that is created by distilling worm root into a very alcoholic beverage with some hallucinogenic properties it is also known to create hallucinations...

Absinthe is a drink that is surrounded in mystery, making it a very unique choice of beverage. Following a few violent incidents in the very early 20th century Absinthe was banned in most civilized nations. Many of these nations soon realized the ridiculousness of banning the beverage, and quickly reversed the ban. The US, however, did not reverse the ban, and to this day Absinthe importation is of questionable legality in the United States. This has only added to the popularity of the beverage.

But, my fellow Absinthe enthusiasts fear not. This beverage is allowed in many parts of the free world, including Canada, and most of Europe. In Europe, it can often be found in grocery stores, but the local residents are often unaware of its existence. The European Union allows up to 35mg of Thujone (the hallucinogen) to be included in the final product. The drink itself often tastes of licorice, and is often mixed with water in order to thin its high alcohol content. When water is added to clear green absinthe the absinthe then turns a milky color. This is known as the louche by absinthe counessiers, and a very important part of the absinthe drinking process.

After mixing absinthe with cold water, it is often traditional to dip a cube of sugar in the concoction and then burn it on top of the glass -- in effect caramelizing the sugar before it drips into the drink and mixes with the beverage. The end result is often a sweet, chilled drink that is nothing like the high percentage alcohol that one would experience if the drink was drunk without mixing it.