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What is absinthe ?
Absinthe is an alcoholic drink made with an extract from wormwood (Artemisia
absinthium). It is an emerald green drink which is very bitter (due to
the presence of absinthin).
Absinthe was once popular among artists and writers and
was used by Van Gogh, Baudelaire, Verlaine, Oscar Wilde, Manet and Ernest
Hemingway to name a few. It appears to have been believed to stimulate
creativity.
What is the active component in absinthe ?
This issue is not entirely resolved. Alcohol is definitely one
main component. However, another candidate is the monoterpene, thujone,
which is considered a convulsant. Thujone's mechanism of action is not
known, although structural similarities between thujone and tetrahydrocannabinol
(the active component in marijuana) have led some to hypothesize that
both substances have the same site of action in the brain. Thujone makes
up 40 to 90% (by weight) of the essence of wormwood, from which absinthe
is made (2). Thus, thujone would appear to be a good candidate for a second
active component in absinthe.
The Effects of absinthe
It is difficult to describe exactly what absinthe does to you. The effects
are mild when compared to some other drugs available out there, but are
very nice none-the-less. The best way I can describe the effects of drinking
5 glasses of absinthe is that it is similar to drinking several shots
of liquor, eating a single mushroom cap, and smoking a tiny amount of
opium at the same time -- For the most part it just gets you drunk, but
it also gives you a nice, warm, relaxing, slightly narcotic buzz.
Using absinthe
absinthe is traditionally poured over a perforated spoonful of sugar into
a glass of water. The drink then turns into an opaque white as the essential
oils precipitate out of the alcoholic solution.
Ingredients of absinthe
There are many different recipes for absinthe but most recipes contain
this ingredients:
One ounce dried chopped wormwood
One tablespoon angelica root
One teaspoon hyssop
One half teaspoon coriander seeds
One quarter teaspoon caraway seeds
One pinch cardomon pods
One tablespoon fennel or anise seeds
750 ml. 100 proof vodka
In these online shops you can buy absinthe:
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