Absinthe spoons,Absinthe glasses, fountains, drippers and brouillers are all collectively known as Absinthiana and are the accoutrements used in the preparation of Absinthe. A person can purchase these antiques and collectibles at quite substantial amount of money.
One can visit AbsintheKit.com to get the replicas of original Absinthiana.The perfect Absinthe in style can be made by going through AbsintheKit.com.
Types of Absinthe Spoons
Absinthe spoons, cuilleres, were introduced in the 1880s to make Absinthe preparation easier. In the past perforated cups over Absinthe glasses had been used. Sugar and water drip into the absinthe through the slotted part of these spoons.
Absinthe spoons, or cuilleres, come in many different shapes and sizes and are also made out of many different kinds of metal including silver, nickel and chrome. According to Marie-Claude Delahaye, a historian specializing in Absinthe history there are over 375 different types of Absinthe spoon.
The most common type of spoon is shaped like a trowel and is called the French Pelle and this group of cuilleres includes the pretty “les feuilles d'Absinthe” which have got Absinthe foliage designs on them. The opening of the Eiffel Tower was memorialized by the famous spoon design featuring the Eiffel Tower.
One can also get the second group of Absinthe spoons known as “les Grilles” or “Les Grillagees”. A person can get the “Les cuilleres” which contains designs with a long handle and a cradle to hold the cube of sugar.
Some of the most famous Absinthe spoons are “Les Cuilleres de Poilus”. Shell casings, aluminum, tin and brass were the materials used by the French soldiers to prepare the Cuillere spoons. These spoons were only made at the start of the war because Absinthe was banned in France in 1915. These spoons were created by the soldiers for their own drinking cups. Now a person can get these beautiful and unique spoons as highly collectible antiques.
Absinthe was banned because of the alleged psychedelic and psychoactive effects of thujone, the chemical found in the herb wormwood which is a major ingredient in Absinthe. Absinthe was legalized in many countries in the 1990s after it was claimed of having no harmful effects.
The Absinthe Ritual
There is a ritual to be followed by lovers of the Green Fairy (Absinthe). These are the required things for the preparation of the perfect Absinthe
- Getting an Absinthe spoon
- Buying an Absinthe Glass
- Absinthe
- Need of iced water
Some people would also say that an Absinthe fountain, brouiller or carafe should be used for the water.
One can make Absinthe in the following manner :-
- A person should pour approximately 25-50ml of Absinthe into his glass.
- After resting Absinthe spoon on the glass place a cube of sugar on it.
- Drip the iced water slowly onto the sugar cube. The louche can be seen from the bottom of the glass.
Due to insolubility of the essential oils in water louche is visible. The finished drink should appear milky or cloudy.
3:1 and 5:1 is the correct ratio of water and Absinthe.
Use of Absinthe spoons and other Absinthiana helps a person to enjoy the Absinthe ritual.
Tags: Absinthe spoon, antiques and collectibles, the Absinthe ritual