ABSINTHE

Have you ever read Poe's work, examined Van Gogh's paintings, or even studied Baudelair's work? Chances are you have, which means that you have also tasted the effects of Absinthe. Absinthe is mystical in nearly every aspect. Everything from its bright green color to it's mysterious physiology marks this drink with a label of exoticness For this reason, it is no wonder the drink went from being one of the most popular to somewhat illegal substances across many continents. Illegalized because it "drove people crazy," absinthe was very quickly suppressed. Being legal in very few countries such as Spain or Czechoslovakia, Absinthe has become increasingly harder to obtain. "Why would one want to obtain Absinthe?" one may ask. For starters, if you were an alcoholic or just looking to get drunk absinthe normally carries a 70-80% alcohol label, but that isn't where the true magic lies. Absinthe is known for producing extreme creativity and hallucinations, the reason why many artists were quite fond of the beverage. The one ingredient that makes absinthe illegal and contributes to its psychoactive properties is the alkaloid thujone. Thujone is actually listed as a toxic substance, and prolonged exposure to the substance is known to cause physical problems. While no physiological relationship has never been established, Thujone's structure is very similar to that of THC's. Thujone is a natural substance most commonly found in Wormwood. However, small traces can also be detected in sage and cedar leaf. Wormwood is the plant used in the process of creating absinthe due to its high thujone content. While wormwood is a bitter and very unpleasant plant, the mixture of sweet anise makes for absinthe's legendary bitter sweet taste. The unique mixture of herbs in the beverage also spawns a vivid green color. This green coined the beverage as "Le Fee Verte," or the green fairy. Since Absinthe is so widely Illegalized, is there any way to obtain this beverage still? But of course there is! Absinthe Sells bottles of absinthe that include the active ingredient thujone, and will ship to the US. In the US, thujone is still banned, but as a food rather than a drug. You aren't allowed to distill or commercially make absinthe, but you can own a bottle and even make your own as long as it isn't distilled. The other option for obtaining absinthe is your own brewing of the product. We have included the process for you. Ingredients: 1. 1 tsp Wormwood (Wormwood can be bought from shamanshop for about $30/lb by clicking here. This is a great deal as you will be able to make gallons of absinthe from this amount). 2. 1 cup vodka (The higher the proof the better. Everclear would be ideal for the creation of absinthe). 3. 2 tbsp peppermint leaves. 4. 1/2 cup sugar. 5. lemon. Find a bottle of some sort with a tight fitting cap. Put a good amount of the wormwood into your bottle. There is no set wormwood/alcohol ratio. Traditional recipes call for about 1tsp wormwood/1 cup vodka, but I normally fill the entire bottle with wormwood since we're going for potency, not taste. Saturate the wormwood with your alcoholic beverage (fill the bottle to the brim). Add a good amount of lemon to the mixture. Lemon is acidic so it may help break down the wormwood. It will also help mask the repulsive taste of the beverage. At this stage you may also want to add other flavorings such as peppermint, anise, even sugar is acceptable. Across the internet I have read hundreds of different recipes for absinthe with about 100 different duration for steeping the wormwood. While some recipes call for several months of steeping, most traditional recipes suggest several days. Due to the desire for higher potency, 2-4 weeks should be sufficient. If you would like to attempt a 3 month steeping duration, let us know how it goes. At the end of the steeping period you should be left with a dark, almost opaque, brownish green drink that smells worst than vomit. Appreciate it, this substance will soon be flowing down your throat. I know some of you may be disappointed to see a beverage that looks like sludge instead of the bright green that is typically associated with absinthe. This is due partially to the lack of any other ingredients in the mixture, and the lack of additives used in the past such as copper. If you are very careful and follow a good absinthe recipe you may end up with the creation of "Le Fee Verte". For consumption I would suggest taking down as much absinthe as you possibly can in the shortest possible amount of time. Adding lemon and copious amounts of sugar will cover the taste slightly, but hardly enough to make a difference. The dosage all depends on how much wormwood to vodka you used, how long it was steeped, as well as the % thujone in the wormwood. Basically this means that you are on your own for dosage. Start with one small glass/shot and work up. Be careful when consuming absinthe as many forget that it is made from high proof alcoholic beverages. Keep in mind that consuming two large glasses of 80 proof vodka alone is enough to kill someone.