Absinthe wormwood is normally Artemisia Absinthium or Grand Wormwood which is actually a variety of wormwood which does not contain a vast amount of the chemical thujone. The drinks with two types of wormwood may contain more thujone. Thujone amounts can differ between brands significantly, some Absinthes only have negligible amounts of thujone, whereas others have up to 35mg/kg. As thujone is an illegal food additive in the USA so Absinthe with negligible amounts of thujone is authorized here.
What is the cause of controversy about Absinthe Wormwood ?
Medicines have been made using this common wormwood, Artemisia Absinthium since Ancient times. Utilization of it has been done :-
– Poisoning caused by toadstools and hemlock can be counterchecked.
– As a tonic.
– This can reduce a fever.
– As a stimulant to digestion.
– Parasitic intestinal worms can be treated.
Green color, bitter taste and name of Absinthe is based on wormwood herb used in it’s preparation. The essential herbal oils in Absinthe are also responsible for the famous “louche” effect, the cloudy that happens when water is added to the drink.
Due to the harmful effects of thujone Absinthe was restricted in many countries. Absinthe drinking was believed to be responsible for violent crimes, serious intoxication, insanity and thujone was thought to have psychoactive and psychedelic effects. It was even claimed that a french man killed his whole family after drinking Absinthe – he was actually an alcoholic who consumed copious amounts of other alcohol after the Absinthe!
Before it’s unauthorization numerous writers and artists enjoyed this drink. Absinthe was unauthorized in many European countries and in the USA but was always authorized in the UK, Spain, Portugal or the Czech Republic.
Absinthe Wormwood Revival
There was never any real evidence linking Absinthe drinking to hallucinations or insanity and it is now known that Absinthe is no worse than any other highly alcoholic drink. Absinthe contains twice the alcoholic content than other drinks so one should be careful while consuming it but Absinthe wormwood is not claimed to be harmful. Lots of people report about feeling a funny lucid or clear headed type of drunkenness due to high dose of Absinthe.
During the 1990s many nations authorized Absinthe which made Absinthe drinking more interesting. There are many different types and brands of Absinthe available to buy and buyers can even order Absinthe essence, to make their own Absinthe, online from companies like AbsintheKit.com.
Even today the exact amount of thujone in Absinthe is unauthorized in the European Union and in the United States. Look for Absinthe that contain real wormwood and herbs not artificial flavors.
