Absinthe

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Absinthe is a high-alcohol beverage that is popular among lovers of exotic drinks. Most often this type of alcohol is colored green, but sometimes in other colors. Absinthe is made from wormwood, dill, anise, lemon balm and other herbs. This drink has gone down in history as the Devil's green drink due to numerous incidents caused by people who drank absinthe.

History of absinthe

Absinthe has a long history. Chronicles show that in the eighteenth century he was already known to mankind. According to the most famous statement, his father was the French physician Pierre Ordinar, who was in Switzerland. Initially, this insidious herbal mixture served mainly as a cure for some diseases, including malaria and dysentery. However, over time, some additional properties of the substance were discovered.

So at one point it became a favorite drink of a bunch of people. By the end of the eighteenth century, Switzerland already boasted its first factory absinthe. Later, alcohol began to be produced in industrial quantities in France. The drink became especially popular among the representatives of the French bourgeoisie. However, absinthe had one negative feature - its fans quickly became addicted to it and literally went crazy after consuming it.

The condition of people accustomed to absinthe was considered far more serious than that of people suffering from classical alcoholism. This caused the habituation to the devil's elixir to be called absenteeism. Dissatisfaction with absinthe intensified even more in the twentieth century, when it was cited as the root cause of a number of deaths. For example, when a man killed his entire family and tried to harm himself, his behavior was explained precisely by his addiction to absinthe. After the case became popular, the drink was declared a drug and banned from sale in a number of countries.

Almost a century later, its sale was again allowed in Switzerland. For years, it has been thought that the reason for the insane behavior observed with absinthe consumption is the thujone substance it contains. Today, however, German and American scientists are of the opinion that this substance is insignificant and cannot be attributed a special psychotropic effect. According to them, the behavior of people who drink too much absinthe is due to the most common alcoholism.

Absinthe production

Absinthe is produced from wormwood, anise, hyssop, fennel, angelica and other herbs. After boiling the wormwood, a liquid with a distinct bitter taste is obtained. Once distilled, it turns into a liquid with an alcohol content of 82 percent. The drink gets a green color with the addition of other plant products or artificially.

Add more water, which serves as a diluent. It happens that the absinthe gradually begins to change its color. In the past, copper and zinc were added to the drink to improve the color of the drink. Today, the production of absinthe is closely monitored, and there are various techniques that are used in the preparation of the drink. Pay close attention to the amount of thujone in the drink. In the modern world, the largest producers of devil's alcohol are Switzerland, France, the Czech Republic and Spain.

Serving absinthe

It is accepted absinthe to be served in a tall glass. Attach a special slotted spoon with a lump of sugar to the cup, and pour an amount of alcohol on top. The lump is then ignited and the resulting caramel ends up in the drink. Ice is added to the glass and water can be added. However, this procedure requires experience and caution due to the high degree of alcohol.

Absinthe in cooking

Like any alcoholic beverage, absinthe is also widely used in the preparation of cocktails. It can be mixed with both fruit drinks and other spirits. In the various cocktails it is combined with brandy, gin, whiskey, liqueurs, perno, rum and vermouth. However, we should not forget that this combination can be both interesting for the senses and dangerous if you overdo the consumption of cocktails.

Benefits of absinthe

It is believed that the useful properties of absinthe are less than its negative qualities. It has a healing effect because of the herbs from which it is made. Wormwood infusions have been used for medicinal purposes for a long time. They have a beneficial effect on jaundice, some women's problems, anemia and rheumatism.

Drinking improves appetite and has a positive effect on the digestive system. It is also believed to have a relaxing effect and can be used as an aphrodisiac. Absinthe is also used to treat flu, colds, bronchitis. It has a warming and antiseptic effect. It has been proven to help heal superficial wounds faster.

Folk medicine with absinthe

Absinthe present in the folk medicine of some western nations. According to one recipe, bronchitis is easier to treat by taking a mixture of fresh milk (100 ml), absinthe (30 ml) and honey (1 tsp). This drink relieves sore throat and helps to quickly remove stuck secretions.

According to folk healers, a compress with absinthe helps with joint pain. Mix absinthe (50 ml), lard and water (100 ml). Spread the resulting mixture on a thick gauze. Place the gauze on the affected area and wrap with a plastic bag. Then wrap with a garment. After 40 minutes, remove the compress and wash the area.

Harm from absinthe

Some experts continue to claim that absinthe is one of the most dangerous alcoholic beverages. According to them, care should be taken with the drink, as it causes rapid alcohol dependence. According to them, the consumption of absinthe leads to hallucinations, memory loss, seizures, irritability, hysterical laughter and more.