| Have you ever read Poe's
work, examined Van Gogh's paintings, or even studied Baudelair's
work? Chances are you have, which means that you have also tasted
the effects of Absinthe. Absinthe is mystical in nearly every
aspect. Everything from its bright green color to it's mysterious
physiology marks this drink with a label of exoticness. For this
reason, it is no wonder the drink went from being one of the most
popular to somewhat illegal substances across many continents.
Illegalized because it "drove people crazy", absinthe was
very quickly suppressed. Being legal in very few countries such as
Spain or Czechoslovakia, Absinthe has become increasingly harder to
obtain. "Why would one want to obtain Absinthe?" one may
ask. For starters, if you were an alcoholic or just looking to get
drunk absinthe normally carries a 70-80% alcohol label, but that
isn't where the true magic lies. Absinthe is known for producing
extreme creativity and hallucinations, the reason why many artists
were quite fond of the beverage. The one ingredient that makes
absinthe illegal and contributes to its psychoactive properties is
the alkaloid thujone. Thujone is actually listed as a toxic
substance, and prolonged exposure to the substance is known to cause
physical problems. While no physiological relationship has never
been established, Thujone's structure is very similar to that of
THC's. Thujone is a natural substance most commonly found in
Wormwood. However, small traces can also be detected in sage and
cedar leaf. Wormwood is the plant used in the process of creating
absinthe due to its high thujone content. While wormwood is a bitter
and very unpleasant plant, the mixture of sweet anise makes for
absinthe's legendary bitter sweet taste. The unique mixture of herbs
in the beverage also spawns a vivid green color. This green coined
the beverage as "Le Fee Verte", or the green fairy. Since
Absinthe is so widely Illegalized, is there any way to obtain this
beverage still? But of course there is! Absinthe Original, sells bottles of absinthe that include the
active ingredient thujone, and will ship to the US. All products are
shipped directly from their brewery in the Czech Republic. In the
US, thujone is still banned, but as a food rather than a drug. You
aren't allowed to distill or commercially make absinthe, but you can
own a bottle and even make your own as long as it isn't distilled.
The other option for obtaining absinthe is your own brewing of the
product. We have included the process for you. Ingredients: 1. 1 tsp
Wormwood
(Wormwood
can be bought from shamanshop for about $15/lb by clicking
here. This is a great deal as you will be able to make gallons
of absinthe from this amount). 2. 1 cup vodka (The higher the proof
the better. Everclear would be ideal for the creation of absinthe).
3. 2 tbsp peppermint leaves. 4. 1/2 cup sugar. 5. lemon. Find a
bottle of some sort with a tight fitting cap. Put a good amount of
the wormwood into your bottle. There is no set wormwood/alcohol
ratio. Traditional recipes call for about 1tsp wormwood/1 cup vodka,
but I normally fill the entire bottle with wormwood since we're
going for potency, not taste. Saturate the wormwood with your
alcoholic beverage (fill the bottle to the brim). Add a good amount
of lemon to the mixture. Lemon is acidic so it may help break down
the wormwood. It will also help mask the repulsive taste of the
beverage. At this stage you may also want to add other flavorings
such as peppermint, anise, even sugar is acceptable. Across the
internet I have read hundreds of different recipes for absinthe with
about 100 different duration for steeping the wormwood. While some
recipes call for several months of steeping, most traditional
recipes suggest several days. Due to the desire for higher potency,
2-4 weeks should be sufficient. If you would like to attempt a 3
month steeping duration, let us know how it goes. At the end of the
steeping period you should be left with a dark, almost opaque,
brownish green drink that smells worst than vomit. Appreciate it,
this substance will soon be flowing down your throat. I know some of
you may be disappointed to see a beverage that looks like sludge
instead of the bright green that is typically associated with
absinthe. This is due partially to the lack of any other ingredients
in the mixture, and the lack of additives used in the past such as
copper. If you are very careful and follow a good absinthe recipe
you may end up with the creation of "Le Fee Verte". For
consumption I would suggest taking down as much absinthe as you
possibly can in the shortest possible amount of time. Adding lemon
and copious amounts of sugar will cover the taste slightly, but
hardly enough to make a difference. The dosage all depends on how
much wormwood to vodka you used, how long it was steeped, as well as
the % thujone in the wormwood. Basically this means that you are on
your own for dosage. Start with one small glass/shot and work up. Be
careful when consuming absinthe as many forget that it is made from
high proof alcoholic beverages. Keep in mind that consuming two
large glasses of 80 proof vodka alone is enough to kill someone. |
