Green Fairy
Have You Met the Green Fairy? Drink Absinthe and You May!
Absinthe, also known as “the Green Fairy,” is an emerald colored strongly alcoholic aperitif with an intriguing history and reputation. Authentic absinthe is made in Europe from alcohol and distilled herbs, including wormwood, green anise, fennel, and hyssop. Very high in alcohol, absinthe is usually in the 55% to 72% range (110 to 144 proof). In comparison, a good whisky is generally around 40% (80 proof). Absinthe is also known for its “secondary effects” that many drinkers liken to a hallucinogenic drug lasting 20-30 minutes. Others say they experience nothing unusual at all beyond the normal buzz produced by the high alcohol content. If you could ask famous artists and writers like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, Edgar Degas, Oscar Wilde, and Ernest Hemingway, they would claim it “expanded the mind” and “enhanced creativity and inspiration.” They also enjoyed a ritualized method of drinking absinthe using a special slotted spoon topped with a sugar cube, over which iced water was slowly poured. The word absinthe is derived from the Greek word “apsinthion” meaning “bitter.” However, when properly distilled, absinthe has a deliciously complex herbal and floral character, with only an underlying bitterness caused by the wormwood, which is related to the daisy family and grows wild in many areas of Europe. Grand and petite wormwood were historically cultivated near Pontarlier in the Doubs region of east France and in the adjoining Val de Travers in Switzerland, the two traditional homes of absinthe.The chemical name for the principle active ingredient in wormwood is thujone (pronounced “thoo-jone” with a soft ‘J’), which is famous for giving absinthe its reputed “secondary effects.” Thujone is a terpene and is related to menthol, which is known for its healing and restorative qualities. In its chemically pure form, thujone is a colorless liquid with a menthol-like aroma. Thujone is a naturally occurring substance, also found in the bark of the thuja, or white cedar, tree, and in other herbs besides wormwood – including tansy and sage – both commonly used in cooking. Aside from absinthe, other popular liquors, including vermouth, also contain small amounts of thujone. It has been scientifically proven that extremely high doses of thujone are dangerous, but the concentration found in absinthe is many thousands of times lower than anything considered toxic. Thujone’s affect on the brain is not fully understood, although certain structural similarities between thujone and tetrahydrocannabinol (the active component in marijuana) led to some speculation in the 1970s that both substances have the same effect in the brain. Other scientific research, however, has completely discredited this idea.As France and many western countries came under pressure in the late 1800s from various temperance movements to curb alcohol consumption, the evidence stacked against thujone’s harmful effects eventually led to the ban on absinthe. Wine was seen as “natural” and did not contain the supposedly mind altering ingredient of thujone, whereas absinthe was “unnatural” and led to alcoholism. While there was definitely a correlation between absinthe drinkers and destitute alcoholics during the Belle Epoque (Beautiful Era) in Paris, it wasn’t the “secondary effects” of absinthe that caused it, it was because drinking absinthe was the cheapest way to consume strong alcohol. So what is more likely to have caused harm to regular absinthe drinkers is the impurities used in the cheaper varieties.In 2007, after 95 years of prohibition, absinthe was once again made legal in the United States. It’s difficult to find authentic absinthes in bars and liquor stores, even though it is completely legal to possess in the United States. If you want to meet the Green Fairy yourself, it is easy to buy genuine Absinthe online from Europe. As with any alcoholic drink, the effect of absinthe will vary from person to person, so please don’t drink and drive.
Moulin Rouge – Absynthe and Green Fairy
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Absinthe Slotted Spoon $2.69 Absinthe is back and it is big. Also known as the “Green Fairy” the anise-flavored spirit that was widely popular a century ago has made a huge comeback in the last few years. This slotted spoon is used to dissolve sugar into a glass of absinthe, thereby counteracting its bitterness…. |
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Appletree 6-Inch Fairy Frog Porcelain Candy Box $22.58 This 6-Inch crafted fine hand painted Porcelain Frog candy box. The candy box has three sides of Frog. Each frog has its own expression – See no evil, Hear no evil and Speak no evil. It can be served with the sweet treats. Simply adding candies can be a nice gesture for any occasions. A functional to the casual or give you many joys on the dinning table. Hand washing recommended and made in china…. |
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Appletree 5-1/4-Inch Fairy Frog Porcelain Teapot $21.07 This 5 1/4-Inch crafted fine hand painted Porcelain Frog teapot. You can see three frog faces on each side. It means “See no evil, Hear no evil, Speak no evil”. it can be used as a beautiful centerpiece for any occasion. It’s a whimsical look. A functional to the casual or give you many joys on the dinning table. Hand washing recommended and made in china…. |
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Appalachia Waltz / Ma, Meyer, O’Connor $11.99 Audio Cd… |
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Purcell: Songs & Airs / Argenta, North, Boothby, Nicholson, Toll $5.88 All products are BRAND NEW and factory sealed. Fast shipping and 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed…. |
Tags: green fairy, green fairy absinthe, green fairy book, green fairy quilts, green fairy quilts blog
Affirmations | admin | 
February 11, 2012 2:20 am
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