Absinthe - what is it? How to drink absinthe correctly? Absinthe recipe. What is absinthe? Composition, history, production and strength of absinthe Absinthe who invented which country

Absinthe was not the first alcoholic drink to feature wormwood in a prominent role. Such alcohol experiments go back to the pre-Christian era. Thus, the first written evidence of wine, which included wormwood among other components, was made by the hand of the ancient Roman writer Pliny and dates back to the first century BC.

In the Czech Republic, wormwood tinctures and liqueurs have been prepared by housewives since ancient times. That is why it is the second most popular drink. Other European countries can also boast similar medieval examples of alcohol. However, those drinks had an extremely indirect relationship to absinthe in its modern understanding.

How it all began

The history of absinthe dates back to the small Swiss town of Couvet. This place was located near the Swiss-French border. Nevertheless, Switzerland should be considered the birthplace of absinthe.

There are two versions of the appearance of this strong drink. According to one of them, the Enrio sisters came up with a recipe for absinthe. The main occupation of these women was the preparation of medicinal potions from medicinal herbs. One of these drugs was Bon Extrait d'Absinthe. The technology for its preparation was simple. At first, wormwood, anise, fennel and other herbs were infused in alcohol. After which they were distilled in a moonshine still. The sisters sold this medicine through Monsieur Ordinier.

According to the second version, the creator of absinthe is Pierre Ordinier himself. This French doctor fled to Switzerland from the turmoil of the French Revolution. Monsieur Ordiniere prescribed absinthe as a universal and restorative medicine that healed the digestive system and the entire body as a whole.

Now no one knows for certain how everything really happened. However, the fact remains. In 1792, absinthe appeared from the doctor Pierre Ordinier. It was he who came up with its second name, by which this strong alcoholic drink is known in our time. Please love and favor the “green fairy” or La Fee Verte.

Why exactly the “green fairy”?

Despite the fact that it was the end of the 18th century, the inhabitants of Europe still believed in the existence of witchcraft and otherworldly forces. Witches, vampires, kobolds, gnomes and fairies were still not recognized in the mass public consciousness as fiction and elements of folklore.

Monsieur Ordinier came up with a brilliant commercial move by giving his medicine the name “fairy”. Absinthe quickly became associated with miracles and magic. It was tacitly recognized as a panacea for any disease.

The fairy turned green because of the color of the drink. Agree, it would be quite strange if the fairy in the green medicinal tincture was of a different color.

One way or another, the name stuck. Moreover, after some time it simply became inseparable from the alcohol itself.

Heyday and insane popularity

In 1797, Ordinier's distant relative Henry-Louis Pernot opened two factories. One of them was in Switzerland, and the second in France. So, strong alcohol from wormwood came into being. And gradually began to gain more and more fame and popularity.

Historians argue that the main historical milestone in the popularization of absinthe was the colonial wars of the mid-19th century, which France waged in North Africa with varying degrees of success. At this time, absinthe began to be included in the daily ration of a French soldier. It was issued for protection against various infectious diseases.

Meanwhile, the drink was gaining more and more popularity in Europe. He was loved not only by men who dreamed of meeting the green fairy, but also by women.

When absinthe became cheaper than wine in the 1870-1880s, real hysteria began. Everyone drank it without exception. Rich bourgeois, bohemians and simple factory workers.

At the same time, as the volumes of absinthe consumed grew, it became obvious that in large quantities it poses a serious danger to human health. The green fairy stupefied the mind, caused hallucinations and simply drove me crazy. More and more deaths were caused by the consumption of this alcohol.

From love to hate

In the summer of 1905, Swiss farmer Jean Lanfray, while intoxicated by absinthe, shot and killed his family. Journalists picked up the story and made it widely public. No one was interested in the fact that in addition to absinthe, Jin Lanfei drank a large amount of other alcoholic beverages that day.

In 1906, the farmer was convicted. And in 1908, the famous 32nd article was added to the Swiss constitution, prohibiting the production and sale of this wormwood alcohol. This event was preceded by a referendum in which the majority of Swiss people supported its ban. In 1915, France followed the example of its neighbor.

It must be said that this ban did not appear out of nowhere. The whole point was the psychotropic substance thujone or monoterpine, which was part of absinthe in large quantities. It was believed that they were responsible for the harmful effects of this alcohol on the human body. The ban on absinthe in the form in which it existed at the beginning of the 20th century was an undoubted blessing.

Rehabilitation of the “green fairy”

In 2004, the Swiss Parliament officially repealed Article 32 of the Constitution and advocated the legalization of absinthe. This decision was quickly supported in other European countries.

Of course, this alcoholic drink was allowed to return for a reason. Its manufacturers were required to strictly control the thujone content in finished products. According to current standards, the concentration of this substance should not exceed 10 grams per liter of absinthe.

Of course, the story of absinthe does not end there. We live in the age of a new heyday of the green fairy. Who knows if it will end in new oblivion.

Painting and Literature

At the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries, the popularity of absinthe was so high that it was reflected in the immortal works of the best artists and writers of that time. They simply could not ignore this strong alcoholic drink in their works.

The surrealist artist Giger is famous for the fact that he painted some of his canvases while intoxicated with absinthe.

This alcohol was also reflected in the paintings of Vincent Van Gogh, Edouard Manet, Jean Béraud, Edgar Degas, and Victor Olive.

However, for my taste, the main painter of absinthe is Pablo Picasso. His “Absinthe Lover” still amazes the imagination of art historians and critics.

This strong wormwood alcohol also left its mark in literature. The brilliant Erich Maria Remarque mentions him in his main novels “Arc de Triomphe” and “Three Comrades”.

Ernest Hemingway, Edgar Burroughs, Aleister Crowley and others also paid attention to absinthe.

There are drinks whose recipes have come to us from ancient times. But there is also alcohol, the invention of which occurred many centuries ago. The history of such a drink is mysterious and mystical, and the taste is filled with mystery and ancient secrets. One of these drinks is absinthe - the oldest wormwood drink.

Absinthe is a type of strong drink, which is based on infusions of herbs and spices. The strength of such booze ranges from 70 to 80%, which in itself makes it the strongest alcohol of our time.

True absinthe, prepared using classical technology, is a very strong drink. Its strength is concentrated not so much in the strength as in the manner of intoxication. The effect of drinking is equated to euphoric, and after drinking a large amount of wormwood tincture, attacks of hallucinations are often observed in the taster.

Absinthe is a truly original alcohol. It not only has an ancient history, myths about clouding of reason, but also their own, special ways of use.

Let's start in order.

History of invention

A drink described as absinthe, was used in Ancient Egypt. The Egyptians treated various ailments with wormwood infusion, attributing healing properties to the drink. The bitter liquid was available to everyone and was sold freely.

How to drink absinthe, the Ancient Greeks knew: they used a certain tincture for treatment, which contained the ingredients of modern green alcohol. Hippocrates himself advised eliminating anemia, aneurysm and jaundice with a bitter infusion of herbs.

According to one legend, the inventors of absinthe were certain Henriot sisters, who called their invention “Bon Extrait d’Absinthe.” At that time, the tincture was used exclusively for healing purposes and bore little resemblance to today's green drink.

Another version says that at the end of the 18th century, a pharmacist named Pierre Ordiner prescribed his patients treatment with an herbal balm, which was just a recipe stolen from the Henriot sisters. Be that as it may, the authorship of the drink is still attributed to this paramedic, since the period of popularization of the tincture as a drink occurred precisely during his medical practice.

Later the drink began to be used and for entertainment purposes. The tincture was sold in small bottles, and on its label was a picture of a beautiful girl. The product was named “Green Fairy”, which as a result became an informal name for the drink.

The first absinthe production plant was opened in Switzerland, and its owner was Henri Dubier, an entrepreneur who bought the recipe for green booze. The plant was called Pernod. The company still operates and produces alcoholic beverages.

Impact on consciousness

In addition to its considerable strength, absinthe has a unique effect on the body and consciousness. It's all about thujone, a component that wormwood releases during infusion. In small quantities, such a substance is considered a drug. In large ones - poison. Thanks to the preparation technology, the effect of thujone is reduced, so it is safe to consume absinthe in small doses.

The story goes that the "green fairy" was the favorite drink of many artists. The euphoria that the drink gives was enjoyed by artists, musicians and writers. Vincent Van Gogh himself was considered a connoisseur of the strong drink. And some manufacturers place a portrait of the artist on the label of their products.

Ban

At the beginning of the 20th century, absinthe gained a bad reputation. People who drank green liquor in excessive quantities committed unjustifiable acts and went on a rampage, which gave absinthe a black reputation. The effect on consciousness was attributed to the lion's share of wormwood in the drink, however, it was hushed up that any alcohol in large doses can cloud the mind.

Belgium, France and other countries one after one, the production and sale of the “cursed potion” was prohibited. The ban lasted long enough. Official production resumed only in 2004. The drink was allowed to be produced only using controlled technology, according to which the thujone content should not exceed 10 mg/kg.

Classification

Classic absinthe has a green color and a characteristic taste and aroma. All manufacturers put the emerald drink at the top of their line. Other shades are considered addition to the collection. Today, several varieties of strong tincture are known. Depending on the color, the drink is divided into the following categories:

The strength of the drink also plays a role in dividing the drink into types:

European manufacturers mostly produce “weak” absinthe. Its strength is in the range of 55 - 65%, and the thujone content is either extremely low or is completely absent from the composition.
Some French and Spanish winemakers produce a stronger drink - 70-85%. This drink is considered the standard among the variety, however, today the thujone content is controlled by law, so its content is usually lower than the “historical” norm.

Use

Anyone who wants to touch the soul and with consciousness to the centuries from which the “green fairy” came must know how to drink absinthe correctly. There are several most popular ways of use.

A few more popular methods how to drink absinthe correctly at home:

How to drink absinthe at home a lot has been said. It is impossible to describe absolutely all methods, since there are a great variety of methods of consumption and compositions for mixing drinks.

What to eat with absinthe

The best snacks at home will be classic treats to go along with quality drinks:

Seafood;
Bitter and milk chocolate;
Citrus fruits and berries.

Before drinking absinthe at home, you need to prepare everything you need for serving and appetizers. Whether drinking a strong tincture will be successful depends on the preparation and atmosphere.

You can't drink this kind of booze in large quantities..

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✪ Homemade absinthe, based on a recipe from Pontarlier, France (1855)

✪ Absinthe recipe based on Absinthe Suisse de Pontarlier 1855 and Absinthe Extra-Fine 1891

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Composition and properties

Thujone is the main component of absinthe: it is a hallucinogen, often leading to uncontrollable aggression together with intoxication with the same drink, which, due to its high strength, can occur very quickly. The effect of thujone does not distinguish absinthe for the better from other alcoholic beverages.

The drink contains the following plants in one form or another:

Absinthe is most often emerald green in color, but can also be clear, yellow, blue, brown, red or black. The green color of the drink is due to chlorophyll, which decomposes in the light, which is why absinthe is bottled in dark glass. Thanks to its characteristic color, absinthe received the nicknames “Green Fairy” and “Green Witch”.

Absinthe becomes cloudy when water is added, since the essential oils of anise and fennel form an emulsion when diluted in a strong alcohol solution.

Story

Appearance

There are several versions of the appearance of absinthe. Some historians believe that absinthe appeared in Switzerland in 1792 in the town of Couve, located near the border with France. In this city lived the Enrio sisters, who were engaged in the production of medicinal potions. One of them was prepared by distilling wormwood-anise tincture in a small distillation apparatus and was called “Bon Extrait d’Absinthe”. The final alcoholic drink also included chamomile, fennel, speedwell, coriander, hyssop, parsley root, lemon balm, and spinach. The sisters sold this elixir through the doctor Pierre Ordiner, who fled to Switzerland during the French Revolution. Some historians believe that Pierre Ordiner himself developed the recipe for absinthe. The doctor prescribed absinthe to his patients almost as a panacea for any disease.

Later, entrepreneur Henri Dubier bought the secret recipe for the drink and launched its mass production with the help of his friend Henri-Louis Pernot in 1798. The sale of absinthe went well, which made it necessary to open a new plant in Pontarlier in 1805, which later became the main center for the production of the drink. The plant was called “Pernod”; absinthe is still produced under this brand name.

Spreading

Absinthe's popularity exploded during the French colonial wars in North Africa, which began in 1830 and peaked from 1844 to 1847. The French military was given a certain amount of absinthe to prevent malaria, dysentery and other diseases, as well as to disinfect drinking water. Absinthe turned out to be so effective that it became firmly established in French army life from Madagascar to Indochina. At the same time, cases of paranoid schizophrenia, called “le cafard,” began to occur more and more often in the troops of North Africa. The fashion for absinthe also spread among French colonists and emigrants in Algeria. In 1888, absinthe was widespread in France. The popularity of absinthe in France was equal to the popularity of wine.
The New York Times noted that in France, girls aged 18 to 20 suffer from cirrhosis of the liver much more often than in other countries, and the reason is an addiction to absinthe. This hobby was explained by the special taste of women for absinthe. They drank it more often undiluted, because they did not want to drink a lot because of the corset. Connoisseurs argued that even white wine may taste somehow unclean after absinthe. Absinthe has a special taste, like menthol cigarettes.

Over time, absinthe “settled down.” If earlier “old Algerian warriors and bourgeois slackers consumed this dubious potion, which smelled like they were rinsing their mouths with it,” then around 1860, absinthe began to descend from bohemian heights to the level of ordinary workers. At its best, absinthe was a fairly expensive drink, but with the advent of cheap brands it became much more accessible and harmful.

There are several reasons for the “infection” of workers with the bourgeois habit, in general the picture becomes clear - a reduction in the working day to 8 hours, an increase in wages, the death of vineyards from phylloxera in the 1870s and 1880s and, as a result, an increase in the cost of wine. Accordingly, the cost of grape alcohol, previously used in the production of absinthe, increased; manufacturers turned to industrial alcohol, which made absinthe 7-10 times cheaper than wine. The cheapest absinthe was a real poison, and it was consumed by workers in dubious eateries, which sometimes did not even have tables and chairs, but only a zinc counter.

In general, the success of the Czech brand is difficult to explain, because the taste of this absinthe did not meet basic requirements. “They drink this absinthe to quickly get drunk; only a masochist adds water to it to prolong its effect.” This phrase, which can be heard among nightclubs or wealthy alcoholics, nevertheless, correctly conveys that such a product was used as a narcotic drug, and not as a drink itself (by definition, it cannot be a table drink of such strength). High-quality, on the contrary, does not cause intoxication so quickly, although it is superior, except for the “bad” one, to all known drinks containing ethyl alcohol.

The Hill's brand was criticized by all qualified alcohol critics and manufacturers; a year later, with the assistance of the main French expert on absinthe and the creator of the absinthe museum, Marie-Claude Delahaye, a new brand “La Fee” was released, which could be consumed without experiencing such unpleasant taste sensations and other consequences, although with precautions.

The manufacturer’s marketing policy took into account the British’s comical attitude towards “the most dangerous of poisons”; a number of promotions had a clearly “frivolous” character, unusual for alcohol advertising. This led to the creation of a more "positive" image of absinthe - one that was understatedly harmful and slightly sinister; Never before has highly toxic alcohol had such a rosy reputation.

Absinthe is of great and invaluable importance for the development of French symbolist poetry, however, it was perceived in a negative sense, due to the poets themselves suffering from a craving for it. Such pillars of this direction as,

About which there are many legends. In some of them it is considered a poison, and the ability to cause hallucinations is attributed to it. In other legends, the drink appears as something unusual, with a unique taste.

Invention of absinthe

Wormwood tinctures were used back in Ancient Egypt. At that time they were used as a medicine. Moreover, they were not available to every person.

In Ancient Greece, wormwood tinctures were also used. Hippocrates recommended their use for jaundice, anemia and rheumatism.

But the ancient wormwood tinctures were still far from the drink that is now called absinthe. There are several versions about his invention. According to one of them, the drink was invented by the Enrio sisters at the end of the 18th century. They gave the tincture the name “Bon Extrait d’Absinthe”. Its use helped cure many diseases.

But there is another version of the invention of this drink. According to it, at the end of the 18th century it was developed by the French physician Pierre Ordiner. At that time he lived and worked in Switzerland, in a small village called Cove. The doctor used the tincture he invented to treat his patients. But there is an opinion that Ordiner did not come up with anything new, but used the recipe of the Enrio sisters. He managed to popularize the drink, so the invention of absinthe became associated with his name.

The tincture has become widespread. It was sold in small bottles. The label depicted a girl with seductive curves standing in a frivolous pose. The drink was called "La Fee Verte", which translates as "The Green Fairy".

Start of absinthe production

A few years later, entrepreneur Henri Dubier bought a recipe for absinthe. He and his friend Henri-Louis Pernot established the world's first industrial production of the drink. Their small factory was opened in Switzerland.

The drink was popular and sold in large quantities. Therefore, seven years later, friends opened a second plant in Pontarlier, France. Over time, this enterprise became the main center for the production of absinthe. The plant was named Pernod. The drink began to be produced in large quantities. Its sales went all over the world. By the way, this alcoholic drink is still produced under the Pernod brand.

The rise of absinthe

But the real popularity of the drink came during military operations in northern Africa. A huge number of soldiers were drawn into the colonial wars launched by France. Military personnel were exposed to African diseases. It turned out that green absinthe coped well with them. It helped overcome illnesses and was used for prevention.

In addition, it turned out that absinthe is an excellent means of getting rid of amoebas and microbes contained in dirty water. Thanks to this, French soldiers avoided intestinal disorders. We can say that absinthe helped them capture African territories. After this he became very popular in France. The soldiers, having returned to their homeland, began to order their favorite drink from the cafe.

In the middle of the 19th century in Paris the question no longer arose: “What is absinthe?” After all, it has become a common drink. It was completely normal to drink absinthe at home before dinner as an aperitif or in the evening to shake off the burden of the day. The period from 17 to 19 hours even began to be called the “green hour”. At this time, it was supposed to drink a portion of the emerald drink and relax.

At the end of the 19th century, the popularity of absinthe reached its apogee. It began to be consumed as often as wine. And already at the beginning of the 20th century in France, absinthe surpassed it in popularity. They drank 6 times more green drink than wine.

Then absinthe got a bad reputation. They began to call it a drink that drives you crazy and plunges you into alcoholism. This is quite natural. After all, any substance can harm the body if consumed in excessive quantities. Therefore, cases of schizophrenia began to occur in those who drank absinthe uncontrollably.

The effects of absinthe on the body

Indeed, the green drink produces a strange effect that was so valued by writers and artists of the past. The explanation for this effect on the body is that absinthe is a tincture of wormwood. And this plant contains thujone. This substance has medicinal properties in small quantities, but becomes poisonous in large quantities. Absinthe preparation technology reduces the harmful effects of thujone. It is worth noting that this substance is found not only in wormwood. It is also present in sage, tansy, and thuja.

Absinthe is an alcoholic drink, but the state that its consumption causes is slightly different from ordinary intoxication. It gives great lightness, cheerfulness, euphoria.

Absinthe is banned

Over time, this drink gained a foothold. The reason for this was the manufacturers who added nickel and antimony to it. These substances gave the drink a shimmering color and opalescent hue, which were considered fashionable at the time.

Alcoholics drinking absinthe in unbridled quantities also contributed to the deterioration of its reputation. Inappropriate behavior caused by drinking the tincture was attributed to the effects of wormwood, forgetting that the composition also included 70% alcohol. They began to blame absinthe for all the madness, not taking into account that any alcohol causes such an effect.

The first country to ban the use of the “cursed potion” was Belgium. This happened at the beginning of the 20th century. It was then banned in a number of other countries, including France.

For a long time, the production, sale and consumption of absinthe was not allowed. It wasn't until 2004 that the laws prohibiting the drink were repealed. But modern manufacturers are obliged to comply with standards for the content of thujone in absinthe. The amount of this substance should not exceed 10 mg/kg. This is ten times lower than in the “cursed potion” of the 19th century.

Drinking culture

Absinthe is a drink that has a strong bitterness and high strength. It contains approximately 70-80% alcohol. Some individuals believe that absinthe is a liqueur. They are wrong. There is only one answer to the question “is absinthe a liqueur or a liqueur?” It's completely obvious. Absinthe - wormwood tincture.

It is not customary to use it in its pure form. There are several options

According to one of them, to prepare a portion of the drink you will need a narrow and tall glass. It needs to be filled with wormwood tincture by 1/5. A special spoon for absinthe is placed on top of the edges of the glass. It looks like a miniature spatula with shaped holes. Lump sugar is placed on top of it. Cold water is poured through it in a thin stream. You can use regular mineral water. Water should be poured to the edge of the glass. Ideally, the sugar should have time to dissolve during this process. A glass of prepared absinthe is drunk in one gulp.

The Czech method involves the reverse sequence in preparing the drink. So, first, cold water is poured into a glass. Then an absinthe spoon with a piece of sugar on top is placed on its edges. Through it, wormwood tincture is poured drop by drop.

There is a third way to prepare the drink. Absinthe is poured into a glass. A piece of sugar is moistened in it. It is placed on a spoon and set on fire. Melting, the sugar flows into the glass. Finally, cold water is added. If desired, it can be replaced with citrus juice.

Absinthe from the store

Today, quite a few brands of absinthe are produced. It's not easy to understand them. It is recommended to avoid absinthe with an alcohol content of less than 70%. After all, it is precisely this percentage that prevents essential oils from disintegrating. Dyes are usually added to wormwood tincture with an alcohol content of 45%. Thus, a good absinthe is one that contains at least 70% alcohol.

There are emerald drinks in bottles whose labels say “thujone-free”. This indicates that there is no thujone in the composition. Therefore, this is not a tincture of wormwood, but an imitation. Such drinks consist of dyes, sweeteners, and flavorings that create the illusion of absinthe.

When purchasing, you should pay attention to the thujone content. Its recommended amount is 10 mg/kg. However, in some stores you can find absinthe that exceeds this standard. Such drinks should be consumed with caution, no more than two glasses per evening.

Classification of absinthe by color

The classic color of the drink is green. Such absinthe is present in the product line of every manufacturer. Its shades can vary from light green to emerald.

Amber-colored absinthe has a mild taste. It is considered an elite drink because it is double purified during the production process.

Ruby-colored absinthe - wormwood tincture with pomegranate extract. It has an original aftertaste.

Absinthe also comes in a dark brown color. In the process of preparing this drink, wormwood roots are used, not leaves. Black acacia infusion is also added to it. The taste of this drink contains sweet tones.

Classification of absinthe by strength

Preparing absinthe

You can not only buy the drink in the supermarket, but also prepare it yourself. It's pretty simple.

To make absinthe you need a distiller, alcohol and fresh wormwood. These are the main components. The process has several options.

According to Odinier-Pernod's recipe, in addition to wormwood, fennel and anise are also used. The herbs are soaked in alcohol and left for 7-10 days. Then everything is boiled in a distiller. The resulting alcohol with herbal infusion can be flavored. This is achieved by adding mint essence or other herbs. Finally, the drink is filtered and bottled.

According to a recipe from 1855, to obtain 1 liter of absinthe you will need:

wormwood leaves - 25 g;
anise seeds - 50 g;
fennel seeds - 50 g;
alcohol 85% - 950 ml.

Leaves and seeds are soaked in alcohol and left for at least 7 days. Then 450 ml of water is added to them. The resulting mixture is distilled through a distiller. This must be done until there is nothing left in the flask except herbs and seeds. The amount of distillate at the outlet is 950 ml. It needs to be filtered through a napkin. The drink is ready.

Benefits of absinthe

Drinking tincture in small quantities has a beneficial effect on the functioning of our body. After all, what is absinthe? This is a drink made with medicinal herbs.

Its use helps to relax, relieves heat and inflammation, dilates blood vessels, improves appetite. Absinthe can be used as a disinfectant, antispasmodic, and anticonvulsant. Its use helps in the prevention of viral diseases.

Absinthe harm

Drinking this drink in moderation is not harmful to health. However, excessive passion for it can have dire consequences. Absinthe contains thujone, a toxic substance. When it enters the human body in quantities exceeding the norm, general excitement occurs and consciousness changes. It is even possible to experience hallucinations. But in tinctures produced by well-known manufacturers, the amount of thujone is strictly controlled.

In addition, do not forget that absinthe is an alcoholic drink. Excessive use of it can result in a banal hangover.

Myths about absinthe

There are many myths about the mysterious drink. Here are some of them.

Absinthe is produced only in green color. This statement is misleading. Emerald green absinthe is a classic version of the drink. But yellow, red, and brown varieties are also produced.
Drinking absinthe destroys brain cells. The effect of wormwood tincture on the brain is equivalent to the effect of any other strong alcohol.
Drinking absinthe causes hallucinations. This statement is associated with thujone, which is part of the drink. Indeed, in large quantities this substance causes hallucinations. But in modern absinthe its content is controlled by European standards. If they are followed, the appearance of a hallucinogenic effect is impossible. However, moderation should be observed in the use of absinthe, like any other alcoholic drink.

What is absinthe and how is it produced? It is to these issues that we will devote today’s article. In addition, you will learn what components are included in this drink, the history of its origin, properties and other information.

General information about the drink

What is absinthe? This is an alcoholic drink that contains from 54 to 86% alcohol. Its name comes from the French word absinthe (according to some sources, from the Greek ἀψίνθιον). Translated into Russian, the name of this drink literally means “bitter wormwood.” And this is not without reason, because its most important component is the extract of this particular plant, the essential oils of which contain a large amount of a substance such as thujone.

History of absinthe

There are several versions of how exactly absinthe appeared. Some historians claim that this drink was first produced in 1792 in a Swiss town called Couvet, which was located near the border with France. In the presented locality lived two Enrio sisters. They were actively involved in the production of various medicinal drugs. As a result of distillation in a homemade distillation apparatus, they obtained an unusual liquid, which they gave the name Bon Extrait d’Absinthe.

After some changes, it began to include ingredients such as fennel, chamomile, speedwell, hyssop, coriander, parsley root, spinach and lemon balm. Enrio's sisters began selling the finished elixir through the doctor Pierre Ordiner, who fled to Switzerland during the French Revolution.

It should also be noted that some sources believe that it was the aforementioned doctor who was the author of the unique one. As is known, he prescribed it to almost all of his patients, claiming that this liquid was almost a panacea for all existing diseases.

A few years later, namely in 1798, a successful entrepreneur, Henri Dubier, bought the secret method for preparing this elixir and quickly launched its mass production. His best friend Henri-Louis Pernot helped him with this.

As a result, the implementation of the magical drink went well, and almost every resident of Europe knew what absinthe was and how to drink it. Thanks to such popularity, Henri Dubier had an urgent need to open a new plant. Thus, in 1805, mass production of absinthe was established in the French city of Pontarlier. Subsequently, this enterprise became the main center for the production of alcoholic beverages. By the way, the plant that produced it was called Pernod. And to this day, absinthe is sold under this brand.

Distribution of alcoholic drink

The popularity of absinthe especially increased during the French Wars, which took place in North Africa. At the same time, military personnel were given a small amount of this drink almost every day to prevent whooping cough, dysentery, malaria and other diseases, as well as to disinfect water.

It should be noted that absinthe turned out to be quite effective in combating various diseases. In this regard, he became firmly entrenched in army life from Indochina to Madagascar.

One cannot ignore the fact that the popularity of this drink in France was almost equal to the popularity of wine and champagne. At one time, the New York Times noted that French women aged 19 to 21 are more likely to suffer from cirrhosis of the liver than in other countries due to an uncontrollable addiction to this drink. After all, young girls drank it undiluted, since they could not drink a lot of liquid due to their tight and narrow corset.

What is included in absinthe?

As mentioned above, a substance such as thujone is the main component of the presented drink. It is this ingredient that creates the effect of absinthe that sets it apart from other types of alcohol. But, in addition to thujone, this drink also includes the following ingredients (plants):

wormwood;
anise;
fennel;
mint;
liquorice;
Melissa;
angelica;
white ash;
coriander;
chamomile;
veronica;
parsley.

Features and properties of the drink

Absinthe, the degrees of which can vary between 54-86 units, most often has an emerald or greenish color. But, despite the fact that such a drink is usually called “green witch” or “fairy”, in reality its shade may be different from the above. For example, yellow, blue, black, red or brown absinthes are quite common today. Moreover, some manufacturers make it completely transparent. However, the most natural color of this drink is considered to be green, which is due to the presence of chlorophyll, which is found in the plants used in production. It should be noted that this substance decomposes quite quickly in light. That is why this drink is almost always produced in dark glass bottles.

By the way, absinthe, the degrees of which is 70 or more units, quickly becomes cloudy when water is added to it. This reaction is due to the fact that wormwood essential oils form an emulsion when diluted in a strong alcohol solution.

Prohibitions and revival of alcoholic beverages

Over the years, the production of absinthe was stopped and then resumed. This fact is due to the fact that many people, under the influence of this, committed a large number of crimes. In addition, mass alcoholism among ordinary workers greatly reduced the French economy and increased mortality. It is also worth noting that numerous bans on the production of this drink were based on the fact that there were huge shortages in the French army due to the deteriorating health of conscripts.

After a long “persecution” of absinthe, its new place of revival was Great Britain, where to this day this drink is very popular.

Brands and types of absinthe

Currently, there are several types of this strong alcoholic drink. It is classified according to different principles: by strength (55-65% and 70-85%), by color (green, black, red, yellow) and by thujone content (high, low or no).

By the way, today absinthe is produced in different countries (France, Italy, the Czech Republic and Spain) and under different brands. The following types have gained particular popularity among connoisseurs of alcoholic beverages: Superior, Jacques Senaux, Teichenne, and Red Absinth.

Self-production of the drink

We found out what absinthe is. Now I would like to talk about how exactly this drink is produced.

The classic method of preparing absinthe is Pierre Ordiner's method. To do this, dried wormwood, fennel and anise should be soaked in alcohol, and then the resulting mixture should be boiled to form a distilled liquid in combination with terpenoids from herbs (that is, essential oils). To improve the taste of the drink, it is recommended to add other plants to it. After this, the liquid must be infused and filtered.

It should be noted that the recipe and production technology of a particular brand of absinthe can vary quite a lot. However, the main idea of their preparation is still the same. So, during the production of this drink, not ordinary strong alcohol is created, as, for example, in the case of brandy or whiskey. After all, during its preparation, wormwood and other plants are used, which are combined together and give all their aroma to the alcohol.