Absinthe spoons,Absinthe glasses, fountains, drippers and brouillers are all collectively known as Absinthiana and are the accoutrements used in the preparation of Absinthe. The price of such antiques and collectibles are quite substantial because of highly valued original items.
A person unable to buy original Absinthiana can buy replicas from companies.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. Perforated cups over Absinthe glasses were being used in the past. Sugar and water drip into the absinthe through the slotted part of these spoons.
Absinthe spoons or cuilleres are available in various shapes and size and prepared from many different kinds of metal. 375 different types of Absinthe spoon are there as per Marie-Claude Delahaye conclusion.
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. In 1889 the inauguration of the Eiffel Tower was also admired by the famous spoon design featuring the Eiffel Tower.
The second group of Absinthe spoons is the group of “les Grilles” or “Les Grillagees” meaning lattice. “Les cuilleres” is the final group which includes designs having a long handle and a cradle to hold the sugar cube.
“Les Cuilleres de Poilus” is considered as one of the most popular Absinthe spoons. A Poilu was a French soldier from the Great War and these Cuillere spoons were designed by soldiers at war from the materials that were easily available to them. These spoons were only made at the start of the war because Absinthe was banned in France in 1915. Soldiers designed these spoons according to their drinking cups. These beautiful and unique spoons are now considered 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 most countries in the 1990s after it was noted that it was no more harmful than any other strong liquor and contained only minute amounts of thujone.
The Absinthe Ritual
There is a ritual to be followed by lovers of the Green Fairy (Absinthe). It is necessary to have these items to prepare the perfect Absinthe
– Types of Absinthe spoon
– Importance of an Absinthe Glass
– Absinthe
– Iced water should be taken
A few people would like to use an Absinthe fountain, brouiller or carafe for the water.
The process of preparing Absinthe
– The glass should not contain more than 25-50ml of Absinthe.
– After resting Absinthe spoon on the glass place a cube of sugar on it.
– Drip the iced water slowly onto the sugar cube. One can see the louche appearing from the bottom of the glass.
Louching, or clouding, happens because the essential oils from the herbs are not soluble in water. The finished drink should be milky or cloudy looking.
The correct ratio of water and Absinthe is between 3:1 (Water to Absinthe) and 5:1 depending on taste.
Using Absinthe spoons and other Absinthiana makes the Absinthe ritual full of fun.