Absinthe

Absinthe is a high proof spirit made famous by the artists and drunks of Belle Epoque cafe society. It has a reputation as an aphrodisiac and potent mind shifting brew. A source of artistic inspiration and debauchery, most recently portrayed in the movie Moulin Rouge. The factor that makes absinthe a drink like no other are the herbs and plants used to make the drink which is affectionately known as La Fee Verte.

Thujone is the active ingredient in the plant Artemsia absinthium, commonly called wormwood. According to Dr Niels Arnold, Professor of Biochemistry, University of Kansas, the level of thujone in bottles drank by the likes of van Gogh was about 260mg [1] Whether or not van Gogh chopped his ear off during a bout of absinthe induced hallucinations is open to debate. What is known is that he decided to give his ear to a prostitute!

Long renowned in the 19th century as a potent aphrodisiac, absinthe these days is a faint shadow of it's former self. Thujone levels are anything between zero and 35mg. Some old traditional absinthes do exist in some quiet parts of Europe, made with fresh wormwood from the Bohemian forests. An absinthe like Century 100 http://www.centuryabsinthe.com is an example, but supplies are always limited. Absinthe (real absinthe that is) is banned in the United States, although many people buy it from Europe and importing for personal use is not a problem.

Just one glass of high thujone real absinthe and you'll notice the renowned "secondary effect". This is a form of alert inebriation and sensitivity to colour, light and of course touch. The GABA receptors in the brain are acting randomly and this causes an alteration that marries with the relaxing effect of the alcohol and takes things to a more interesting place.

High thujone absinthe is expensive, but if you drink cheaper commercial low thujone absinthe, you won't feel the full effect of Fee Verte, or Green Fairy.