A large number of contradictory Absinthe information is available online and in books which can confuse a person.
Misleading Absinthe Information
One book “Absinthe The Cocaine of the 19th Century: A History of the Hallucinogenic Drug and its Effect on Artists and Writersin Europe and the United States” by Doris Lanier, compares Absinthe to drugs such as cocaine because it was said to be addictive, to give a sense of euphoria, have psychedelic effects and weaken the brain and other faculties.
The period during which Absinthe became a well known product is known as “The Great Binge”. This was a time in history when most of today’s illegal drugs was used by normal everyday people for different purpose. In drinks also. Popular drinks in bars were Absinthe, Vin Maraiani (cocaine and wine) and Coca Cola (then made from cocaine, wine and kola nuts). These drugs and drinks were all thought to be harmless and were widely consumed throughout Europe.
Absinthe was linked with these drugs because of its popularity with Bohemian artists and writers, who liked to overindulge to help their creativity, and with the loose morals of the courtesans of the Moulin Rouge and Montmartre.
Wormwood contains thujone which was thought to be psychoactive and alike THC in the drug cannabis. THC affects the central nervous system whereas thujone affects the GABA receptors in the brain. The consumption of wormwood in large quantities give rise to the same effects as caused by the cannabis intoxication.
Absinthe was banned along with some drugs in the early 1900s and was made illegal to buy and sell in many countries around the world. We now know that its ban was just part of the hysteria of the time. People lumped Absinthe together with drugs and even as magic mushrooms, LSD, weed, cannabis and ecstasy.
Absinthe Information – What we now know
We know that medical studies on Absintheand wormwood in the past were not accurate and were “colored” by the prohibition movement of the time and the worry that Absinthe was a drug. Absinthe contains very small amounts of thujone after it is distilled which is insufficient to cause any harmful side effects or hallucinations. Even tests on vintage pre ban Absinthe has shown that it hardly contained any thujone at all. Before suffering from thujone a person would die of alcohol poisoning.
Absinthe can now be enjoyed in bars and in homes across the world as it is authorized in most of the countries.
Because of it’s high proof one has no problem to get drunk on Absinthe. It should be drunk carefully because it contains double amount of the alcohol. A person drinking Absinthe will experience intoxication different from other spirits or fermented beverages. It is described as a “lucid” or “clear headed” kind of drunkenness by several people. A mixture of sedatives and stimulants can explain this. These qualities are improved by making cocktails having Absinthe and the caffeine loaded drink Red Bull!
The false Absinthe information can create confusion to a person. However, it is a great tasting herbal alcoholic beverage which is fun to prepare and has a great anise flavor. A person can also enjoy making his very own wormwood Absinthe at home by using real, top-quality Absinthe essences.com – a fun and economical way to enjoy Absinthe.
