There is various contradictory Absinthe information available online and in books on which can hardly 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.
At the end of the 19th century and early 20th century Absinthe became well known to the people. Several today’s illegal drugs like crack cocaine, morphine and heroin were in use by normal everyday people at this time. In drinks also. Bars used to sell Absinthe, Vin Maraiani and Coca Cola. These drugs and drinks were believed to be free from side effects and so they were widely consumed throughout Europe.
The cause of linking Absinthe with these drugs was it’s popularity with Bohemian artists and writers, who have it to help their creativity and with the loose characters of the courtesans of the Moulin Rouge and Montmartre.
Thujone was proved to be psychoactive and similar to THC. Both THC and Thujone are terpenoids and are both from essential oils but THC affects the central nervous system whereas thujone affects the GABA receptors in the brain. The heavy amount of wormwood intake causes hallucinations and fantasies, make the person feel euphoric, relieve pain and act as an aphrodisiac.
Absinthe was banned along with some drugs in the early 1900s and was made illegal to buy and sell in many countries around the world. Banning it was just a part of the hysteria of the time. Drugs like heroin (the White Fairy), cannabis and cocaine were lumped with Absinthe and also lots of people and websites mention it 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. The tests on vintage pre ban Absinthe showed that it barely contained any thujone. A person would die of alcohol poisoning long before suffering any side effects from thujone.
Absinthe can now be enjoyed in bars and in homes across the world as it is authorized in most of the countries.
Because of it’s high proof one has no problem to get drunk on Absinthe. One must be careful while consuming it as it has twice the alcohol content. If you do get drunk on Absinthe you will probably experience a very different intoxication than you would experience from other spirits or fermented beverages. It is described as a “lucid” or “clear headed” kind of drunkenness by several people. This can be understood with the help of a solution of sedatives and stimulants. Some people enhance these qualities by making 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.A person can enjoy Absinthe in an economical way on AbsintheKit.com.