Posts Tagged ‘absinthe’

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Information About Alcohol In Absinthe

Monday, October 26th, 2009

There has been much controversy regarding the thujone levels in Absinthe and whether Absinthe can really make you hallucinate but what about its alcohol content – How much alcohol is in Absinthe?

All commercial alcoholic drinks are labeled according to their alcohol content which makes people able to decide about the drink and also about the quantity of consuming them.

A person needs a hydrometer to measure alcohol content. One can get a hydrometer with a thermometer attached to it. The hydrometer floats upright in the liquid. The water line will reach at level marked 1when it is put in water.When it is put in sugared water the level increases because the water becomes denser. When the hydrometer is used in fermenting alcohol the float moves lower as the sugar is eaten by the yeast. The original gravity and the final gravity of alcohol is measured while preparing it.

This formula is used to get the volume of alcohol
A person can use the formula Original gravity – Final gravity x 131 = Alcohol by volume to calculate the alcohol content.

The EU and the United States label the alcohol by volume content of drinks on the other hand some other countries believe on proof. Studies show that proof is approximately twice alcohol by volume.

Different brands of Absinthe have different alcohol contents. Look at the following statistics:-

Lucid Absinthe 62% abv (124 proof)
Alcohol by volume is 53% in La Clandestine Absinthe
Sebor contains 55% abv
Research shows that Pere Kermanns contains 60% abv
Research shows that Pernod Absinthe contains 68% abv of alcohol
Mari Mayans Collectors 70 contains 70% abv (140 proof) of alcohol
What is La Fee XS Absinthe Suisse 53% abv (106 proof)
La Fee XS Absinthe Francaise contains 68% abv (136 proof) of alcohol
Getting knowledge of La Fee Bohemian 70% abv (140 proof)
One can get 68% abv alcohol content in La Fee Parisian
The alcohol by volume is 53% abv (106 proof) in Kubler 53
Doubs Mystique Carte D'Or contains 65% abv of alcohol
Roquette 1797 75% abv (150 proof)
The alcohol volume in Jade PF 1901 is 68% abv
The alcohol content in Jade Edouard is 72% abv (144 proof)
Going through Jade Verte Suisse 65% abv (130 proof)
Jade Nouvelle Orleans 68% abv (136 proof)

As you can see Absinthe can range from 53% abv to 75% abv, quite a difference. Now, let's compare those levels to other alcoholic drinks:-

Absolut Blue Vodka 40% abv (80 proof)
Jose Cuervo Gold Tequila is available with 38% abv (76 proof)
The alcohol content in beer can be 4 to 5%.
Table Wine 9-12% alcohol by volume (18-24 proof).
The availibility of alcohol is 40% in Johnnie Walker Black Label Scotch Whisky.
Everclear 95% abv (190 proof)

No other alcoholic drink seems to come close to Absinthe!

The alcohol content can differ in homemade Absinthes. One person might mix an Absinthe essence from AbsintheKit.com with Absolut vodka (40% abv) and another might make it with Everclear (95% abv) – a huge difference.

Absinthe was banned in the 1900s because of claims that thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was like THC in the drug cannabis and that it was psychoactive and caused psychedelic effects. The excess intake of any drink can be a danger to health. As people in Memphis have understood this so Memphis was the city that drank the least alcohol in the USA in the year 2006.

One should definitely know about the alcohol content in Absinthe and other alcohol that is consumed by the people.

 

 

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Knowledge Of Artemisia Absinthium

Saturday, October 17th, 2009

Artemisia Absinthiumis the botanical and Latin name for the plant Common Wormwood. The name “Artemisia” was kept from the name of the Greek Goddess Artemis. Artemis is the name of the goddess of forests and hills, of the hunt and also a protector of children. Later Artemis and the moon was corelated. It is thought that the Latin “Absinthium” comes from the Ancient Greek for “unenjoyable” or “without sweetness”, referring to wormwood's bitter taste.

The Common Wormwood plant generally grows in rocky areas and on arid ground in Asia, North Africa and the Mediterranean. After spreading from people's gardens it developed in parts of North America. The different names for common wormwood are armoise, green ginger and grande wormwood.

The silver gray leaves and tiny yellow flowers are attraction of wormwood plants. The tiny glands on the leaves are the production area of Wormwood oil. Tarragon, sagebrush, sweet wormwood, Levant wormwood, silver king artemisia, Roman wormwood and southernwood are other types of plants of the Artemisia family. The Artemisia plants originated from the Aster family of plants.

There are various uses of wormwood as a herbal medicine
- Easing labor pains in women.
- One can check the poisoning from toadstools and hemlock.
- One can use it as an antiseptic.
- Digestive problems are relieved by using it. People lacking sufficient stomach acid can be treated with wormwood.
- As a cardiac stimulant in pharmaceuticals.
- One can use it in reducing fevers.
- To discharge intestinal worms it can act as an anthelmintic.
- As a tonic.

According to the research wormwood can be efficient on healing Alzheimer and Crohn's disease.

Effects of Artemisia Absinthium

Wormwood is a key ingredient in the liquor Absinthe, the Green Fairy, which was banned in many countries in the early 1900s. Absinthe is named after this herb which also gives the drink its characteristic bitter taste,

Absinthe was banned because of its alleged psychedelic effects. People thought that the problems of hallucinations and madness occurred by it. Absinthe was also associated to the Bohemian culture of Parisian Montmartre with its loose morals, courtesans, artists and writers.

The THC in the drug cannabis and the thujone in wormwood are said to be the same. The amount of thujone is so small in Absinthe that it cannot harm a person unless drunk in very large quantity!

One can drink Absinthe as any other strong spirit but in balanced amount.

One is not getting the real Absinthe without Artemisia Absinthium. Other herbs and flavorings are used in the manufacturing of “fake” Absinthes which are not the real Absinthe. If you want the real thing you must check that they contain thujone or Common Wormwood or use essences,such as those from AbsintheKit.One can visit AbsintheKit.com to make his own Absinthe containing Artemisia Absinthium.

 

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Know About Absinthe

Friday, September 18th, 2009

There is so much contradictory Absinthe information available online and in books, it's hard to know what to believe.

Misleading Absinthe Information

One book “Absinthe The Cocaine of the 19th Century: A History of the Hallucinogenic Drug and its Effect on Artists and Writersin Europe and the United States” by Doris Lanier, compares Absinthe to drugs such as cocaine because it was said to be addictive, to give a sense of euphoria, have psychedelic effects and weaken the brain and other faculties.

The period during which Absinthe became a well known product is known as “The Great Binge”. This was a time when numerous of today's unauthorized drugs such as crack cocaine, morphine and heroin were developed and used by people for medicine, on prescription for coughs etc. One can use it in drinks. Bars used to sell Absinthe, Vin Maraiani and Coca Cola. These drugs and drinks were used widely in the whole Europe.

Absinthe was linked with these drugs because of its popularity with Bohemian artists and writers and with the loose morals of the courtesans of the Moulin Rouge and Montmartre.

Thujone, the chemical in wormwood, was also claimed to be psychoactive and similar to THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) in the drug cannabis (marijuana). The essential oils contain THC which affects the central nervous system and thujone which affects the GABA receptors in the brain. The effects of wormwood is similar to cannabis intoxication when smoked as a joint or consumed in large amount.

Selling and buying of Absinthe was not legal in several countries in the early 1900s. Due to the hysteria of the time it was restricted. People lumped Absinthe, the Green Fairy, together with drugs like heroin (the White Fairy), cannabis and cocaine and even now there are many people and websites who mention Absinthe in the same sentence as magic mushrooms, LSD, weed, cannabis and ecstasy. 

Absinthe Information – What we now know

We know that medical studies on Absintheand wormwood in the past were not accurate and were “colored” by the prohibition movement of the time and the worry that Absinthe was a drug. The quantity of thujone is very less in Absinthe to cause any harmful side effects or hallucinations. Even tests on vintage pre ban Absinthe has proved that it hardly contained any thujone at all. Alcohol can kill a person before the thujone effects.

Studies and research have caused various nations to relegalize Absinthe due to which it can now be enjoyed everywhere across the world.

Anyone can easily get drunk on Absinthe due to it's high proof. One must be careful while consuming it as it has twice the alcohol content. The intoxication experienced from Absinthe is very different from other spirits or fermented beverages. It's explanation is given as a “lucid” or “clear headed” type of drunkenness. The blend of herbs and the alcohol can explain this. A number of people elevate these qualities by preparing cocktails containing Absinthe and the caffeine loaded drink Red Bull!

Anyone can be confused by believing on some of the misleading Absinthe information. The preparation of this anise flavor alcoholic beverage is entertaining. Real, top-quality Absinthe essences is available at AbsintheKit.com which can be used in the making of own wormwood Absinthe.com – a fun and economical way to enjoy Absinthe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Benefits Of Absinthe Info

Saturday, September 12th, 2009

Since there has been an Absinthe revival in many countries over the past few years, many people are seeking Absinthe info.

“La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” is the nickname of Absinthe. It is distilled usually with a wine base and a variety of herbail ingredients, unlike the alcoholic beverages beer and cider which are fermented.

The name of Absinthe and it's distinctive bitter taste both came from the common wormwood, artemisia absinthium. As thujone was restricted in the countries like the USA so they prepared Absinthe without wormwood.

Other types of herbs and essential oils used in Absinthe production include Fennel, green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, juniper, angelica, licorice, dittany, coriander, nutmeg and sweet flag. One can see a louche when Absinthe is mixed with water. The oils dissolve in alcohol but not in water which causes the drink to go cloudy.

Absinthe Info about the Ban

The prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe was harmful and that drinking Absinthe led to “Absinthism” which was characterized by convulsions, fits, madness, brain damage and ultimately death. Thujone is the chemical found in wormwood which was believed to be dangerous. It was assumed that Absinthe was very toxic and harmful due to a high quantity of thujone in it. In the beginning of 1900s lots of nations banned Absinthe.

Everyone is familiar that these statements and claims are far from the truths related to Absinthe. Thujone can be harmful when taken in large quantities. Recent studies have shown that Absinthe contain a maximum of 6mg per kg of thujone. Thujone can be dangerous only if excess amount of Absinthe is taken by a person!

Absinthe has now been legalized in most countries and there are many types and styles available:-

- Clear Absinthe – This is known as La Bleue or Blanche Absinthe and is commonly distilled in Switzerland.

- La Verte – This is traditional green Absinthe, the Green Fairy.

The normal French or Swiss Absinthe is less sweeter than the Spanish Absinthe.

- Bohemian or Czech style Absinthe is a wormwood bitter than an Absinthe which lacks other herbs such as aniseed or fennel.

Thujone or wormwood is the important content of real Absinthe.

You can also make your own Absintheby using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. Modern carbon dioxide distillation is used to distill these essences. The Absinthe can be made by dissolving it with a neutral alcohol.

One can visit AbsintheKit.com to get more Absinthe info and info about Absinthe kit.

 

 

 

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Gather Absinthe Info

Saturday, September 5th, 2009

Since there has been an Absinthe revival in many countries over the past few years, many people are seeking Absinthe info.

Absinthe is known as “La Fee Verte” or “The Green Fairy” because of its characteristic green color. Unlike the alcoholic beverages, beer and cider it is distilled usually with a wine base and lots of herbal ingredients.

The common wormwood, artemisia absinthium gives Absinthe it's name and it's distinctive bitter taste. Countries like the USA regulated the use of thujone so fake Absinthes were manufactured there which do not contain wormwood.

Absinthe is also prepared with the other herbs and essential oils like Fennel, green aniseed, star anise, hyssop, lemon balm, juniper, angelica, licorice, dittany, coriander, nutmeg and sweet flag. It is the essential oils in Absinthe that causes it to louche when mixed with water. The oils are soluble in alcohol but not in water and so cause the drink to go cloudy.

Absinthe Info about the Ban

The prohibition movement claimed that Absinthe was harmful and that drinking Absinthe led to “Absinthism” which was characterized by convulsions, fits, madness, brain damage and ultimately death. Thujone was thought to be the cause for psychedelic effects. It was assumed that Absinthe was very toxic and harmful due to a high quantity of thujone in it. Most of the countries banned Absinthe in the early 1900s.

The facts about Absinthe is entirely different from the statements given about it. High dose of thujone can be harmful. Recent studies have shown that Absinthe contain a maximum of 6mg per kg of thujone. Thujone can be dangerous only if excess amount of Absinthe is taken by a person!

Absinthe has now been legalized in most countries and there are many types and styles available:-

- Clear Absinthe – This is known as La Bleue or Blanche Absinthe and is commonly distilled in Switzerland.

- La Verte – This is traditional green Absinthe, the Green Fairy.

Due to the use of Spanish Alicante Anise Spanish Absinthe becomes sweeter than normal French or Swiss Absinthe.

- Bohemian or Czech style Absinthe – Also known as Absinth, it is a wormwood bitter, rather than an Absinthe, which does not contain other herbs such as aniseed or fennel.

A real Absinthe is that which contain thujone or wormwood.

You can also make your own Absintheby using Absinthe essences from AbsintheKit.com. The distillation process of these essences are done by using modern carbon dioxide distillation. The Absinthe can be made by dissolving it with a neutral alcohol.

AbsintheKit.com provides more Absinthe info and info about buying essences, replica spoons and Absinthe glasses.

 

 

 

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