Absinthe is a mysterious and mysterious drink, which is credited with an extraordinary effect on a person. Discussions about its benefits and harms have been going on for quite some time, however, the disputing parties are united in the opinion that absinthe has a refined and unique taste.
What is absinthe?
Absinthe in translation from ancient Greek means "wormwood." Nowadays, the so-called alcoholic beverage is widely used, which contains 70, 75 or 86% alcohol. The basis of absinthe is an extract of a wormwood plant, which has a substance called thujone in its essential oils in high concentration.
Thujone is a substance that contains hallucinogen, which, together with alcohol in absinthe, often leads to aggressive human behavior. The effect of exposure to this substance is not best characterized by absinthe in comparison with other drinks, but his lovers say that it all depends on the person and the amount of alcohol consumed. They also insist that you need to understand how to drink absinthe.
Composition
In addition to wormwood, absinthe contains many different herbs and flowers, for example, anise, angelica, coriander, lemon balm, mint, parsley, two types of wormwood, fennel, chamomile and others.
Absinthe is usually green, emerald, but there are drinks that have blue, yellow, red, brown, and even black. The green tint of absinthe is due to the fact that the composition contains chlorophyll, but it breaks up in the light.
Because of the emerald color, absinthe in the common people was called the “green witch”, as well as the “green fairy”. In order for the drink to retain its taste, longer, the effect of consumption and color, it is bottled in opaque bottles.
Varieties
Absinthe is classified according to various criteria, and there is no consensus on what kind of standard is there, and there is no full agreement on how to drink absinthe. If we classify natural absinthe by color, then we can talk about green and yellow colors, which have different shades.
Green absinthe. This is a classic absinthe, with a natural color that has a number of shades: from light green to rich emerald tones. Almost all manufacturers of absinthe produce a drink of green color, but now many of them prefer to use food colors. This is due to the fact that the natural color obtained using chlorophyll fades over time due to exposure to light.
Yellow absinthe. This drink has a bright amber color. Most often this is achieved using food colors, however, it can also be a sign of the naturalness of absinthe. The fact is that the natural dye chlorophyll can also change its color to yellow after some time - this phenomenon is called "aging of absinthe."
Unusual species
As mentioned earlier, there are several varieties of absinthe - both classic and very unusual and extravagant. The latter include red absinthe.
This drink has such an unusual color for absinthe due to the fact that pomegranate is used in its manufacture, which gives it a sophisticated shade of ruby and a piquant aftertaste, especially bright and rich, if you understand how to drink absinthe. However, at present, most manufacturers use food coloring, which, in turn, affects the taste of the drink.
Black absinthe is probably the most unusual of all types. Its main feature is that it is made not from inflorescences or wormwood leaves, but from its roots. This absinthe gets its color from the infusion of black acacia, which is called "catechu." She adds sweet berry tones to the bouquet of the drink. Nowadays, many manufacturers of absinthe replace "catechu" with cheap food colors that change the taste not for the better.
Varieties of absinthe fortress
At the moment, the color of absinthe, regardless of whether it is a classic green or a unique black tone, cannot be a guarantee of the quality of the drink and its naturalness. Therefore, some drink connoisseurs claim that it is more correct to classify it by strength. It is also necessary to pay attention to how to drink absinthe of different strengths in order to get the maximum positive effect and not harm the body.
Czech, French and Spanish producers of absinthe varieties with wormwood extract, but with a low thujone content (sometimes without it) most often produce a drink that has a strength of 55 to 65% alcohol.
Some manufacturers in France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the Czech Republic and Switzerland make extremely strong absinthe - from 70 to 85% alcohol. The drink, created by classical technology, refers to an extremely strong form.
Varieties of absinthe concentration
Absinthe is often classified by the thujone contained in it, which, as you know, has a hallucinogenic character. There are Czech and Swiss absinthe with a high content of thujone, in which its share varies between 25 and 100 mg per liter of drink.
Many Italian and Spanish producers of absinthe produce a drink in which the thujone content is small and ranges from 1.5 to 10 mg per liter.
France and Switzerland produce a drink that lacks thujone. Most often these are tinctures, which, in fact, mimic the taste of absinthe, but some classify them as absinthe. These tinctures are mainly used for making cocktails, and in their pure form it is not recommended to drink them.
How to drink absinthe at home
A drinking culture exists in almost all alcoholic beverages, and absinthe also has it. This drink requires an extremely attentive attitude to it and the correct dosage calculation in order to get the maximum of pleasant sensations and not harm your health.
A high alcohol content is not the only reason that requires caution, you need to be careful with the thujone, which is contained in absinthe. No wonder this drink is called in two ways: if you follow all the rules, then it is a "green fairy", but if you exceed the dose, it will turn into a "green witch."
There are several methods for making absinthe, but all of them are aimed at reducing the bitter taste of the drink, as well as its strength. There are methods that focus not only on taste, but also on the entertainment of preparing absinthe.
Classic method of use
There are several opinions on how to drink green absinthe. It is believed that the French (classical) method of consuming absinthe is most suitable for a classic drink. This is done like this: on the edges of the glass with a drink put a special flat spoon for absinthe, in which there are special holes. At the place where the holes are located, put one cube of refined sugar, then iced water begins to pour on this sugar, which, when sweetened, gets into the glass.
Water and sugar react with absinthe, and the release of essential oils begins, due to which the drink becomes turbid. It is also believed that water with sugar increases the effect of the hallucinogenic thujone contained in the drink, but there is no scientific evidence for this. Absinthe is diluted with water in a proportion of one to five.
Clean and fiery method
Consider another way to drink absinthe properly at home. This drink is consumed in a pure, undiluted form, but a single dose is recommended to be limited to an amount in the region of 30 ml. Absinthe is cooled, almost approaching zero temperature, and it becomes thick in consistency, then it is poured into narrow glasses and drunk. It is worth noting that it is recommended to be limited to a single use of absinthe in its pure form per evening. To avoid negative consequences, it is better to switch to cocktails with its content.
Often you can hear the question: "How to drink absinthe and what to eat?" Pure absinthe is an aperitif, and it is not eaten, but if it is found in a cocktail, it can be eaten with chocolate and fruit.
In order to try absinthe prepared by the fiery (Czech) method, it is necessary to do the following: a quarter glass is filled with pure absinthe. Then one cube of refined sugar is wetted in absinthe. On the edges of the glass, place a spoon specially designed for absinthe, which has openings, and put a sugar cube soaked in the drink on it. After which the sugar is set on fire and allowed to burn for about one minute.
Sugar begins to melt, its hot liquid drops fall to the bottom of the glass and make the taste of the drink softer and more pleasant. Then a little ice water is added to the glass and the absinthe is ready to drink.
Pair method
Consider how to drink absinthe in pairs. This method is also known as two glasses. To prepare absinthe according to this method, you will need a glass and a glass. A small glass (up to 30 ml) is filled with absinthe, then it is placed inside the glass. Cold water slowly begins to pour into the glass itself. After the water in the glass is mixed with absinthe in the glass, the drink inside the glass is ready to drink.
One of the most popular methods for preparing absinthe is the "bartender", for example, it is used to make the Devil's Breath cocktail.
The bartender’s method: how to drink absinthe prepared using this method?
To prepare absinthe, you must have a cognac glass, a glass of whiskey and a tube with a napkin. A drink is poured into a cognac glass, not more than 50 ml, and set on fire. The glass itself is tilted at an angle of 45-65 ° and rotated on its own axis. After half a minute, absinthe, which continues to burn, is poured into a whiskey glass and covered with a cognac glass.
Absinthe pairs from a whiskey glass rise and concentrate in a cognac glass. Then the latter, with absinthe pairs, is placed in the same inverted form on a napkin with a straw. This is done so that one end of the straw is inside an inverted cognac glass. Ready absinthe, which is in a glass for whiskey, is drunk, then through the tube they begin to inhale the vapors that have been preserved in the cognac glass.
These are the most famous and popular methods of drinking a unique drink. Now you know how to drink absinthe properly at home, and most importantly, how to properly prepare it. Nevertheless, it is recommended to entrust the preparation of absinthe and cocktails with its content (especially using fire) to professionals. They know the correct dosage of this insidious drink and will allow you to enjoy it without jeopardizing your health.