Absinthe is no ordinary alcoholic drink - at least according to the legends surrounding it. This drink, affectionately known as the "green fairy" because of its green color, is famous for its ability to induce hallucinations and loss of consciousness. Some say that people who drink it have gone mad, killed people, and done all sorts of terrible things. Stories like these have given absinthe a mysterious and frightening ring of fear. So let's see today, is there any truth to these stories? Is absinthe really something completely different and dangerous than other alcoholic drinks?
What exactly is Absinthe?
Simply put, absinthe is a highly alcoholic drink made from a variety of plants. It is mainly made from the leaves and flowers of the wormwood plant (scientific name `Artemisia absinthium`). In addition, things like `fennel` and `anise` are also added.
The most dangerous thing about this is the very high alcohol content . Usually, the alcohol content of an absinthe ranges from 45% to 74%. But sometimes you can find absinthe with an alcohol concentration as high as 89%. Think about it, the alcohol content of alcoholic beverages that we usually know like vodka or whiskey is about 40%. So, compared to that, can you imagine how strong absinthe is? Because of this extreme hardness, if you drink absinthe, you should definitely dilute it with water (mix it).
How is absinthe made?
Traditionally, absinthe is made from dried herbs and wormwood. This mixture of herbs is ground up and distilled. The resulting liquid is a colorless liquid with an alcohol content of between 60% and 80%. More wormwood and other herbs are then added to give it its distinctive green color. Finally, it is diluted with water to make it drinkable.
Although there are different opinions about the taste of absinthe, it is said that a quality absinthe should have a bitter, dry taste with a complex herbal flavor.
The strange history of absinthe
Wormwood has been used as a medicine since before it was used to make absinthe. Absinthe itself was originally made as a medicine. But because of its "kick", it soon became popular as an alcoholic beverage. Its history is both interesting and disturbing.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1789 | Dr. Pierre Ordinaire, a French physician, creates the first absinthe recipe for medicinal purposes. |
| 1840s | Absinthe is marketed as an alcoholic beverage in France. |
| 1850 - 1890 | Due to its high potency and low price, it became very popular among European artists (such as Vincent van Gogh and Oscar Wilde). At the same time, doctors and anti-alcohol groups tried to prove that it was a "demon". |
| 1869 | Valentin Magnan, a physician, showed in experiments that animals that inhaled wormwood oil developed convulsions. He called this condition "absinthism." He argued that the harm caused by absinthe was not alcoholism, but rather the condition called "absinthism." |
| 1905 | A man in Switzerland goes mad and kills his wife and children after drinking absinthe. This incident sparks a wave of calls to ban absinthe across Europe. |
| 1905 - 1915 | Absinthe is banned in many countries, including the United States and France. |
| 1990s | Decades later, countries are starting to reconsider this ban. They are limiting the chemical Thujone and allowing absinthe to be made. |
The most important question: Do you really hallucinate when you drink absinthe?
In short, no.
The main reason for these hallucinations was attributed to the psychoactive chemical `thujone` found in the wormwood plant. Many people thought that pre-ban absinthe had a high concentration of `thujone`.
However, a 2008 study definitively confirmed that the strange effects of absinthe are not caused by thujone. Neither old nor new absinthes contain enough thujone to cause hallucinations. Even if someone drank a liter of absinthe, that amount of thujone would not cause hallucinations.
So who is really guilty?
That research revealed the real cause of the dangerous condition called "absinthism." That is the ethanol contained in absinthe. Ethanol is the chemical name for the alcohol we are talking about.
Simply put, there's nothing strange that's happened to people after drinking absinthe. It's either severe alcohol poisoning or the side effects of chronic alcoholism caused by the high alcohol content in it.
Additionally, some of the lesser-made absinthes of that time may have contained toxic chemicals like methanol. These toxins may have had various effects on people.
So what is the real effect of absinthe?
As these stories make clear, drinking a couple of shots of absinthe today won't make green fairies come and talk to you, or make you lose your mind. The only thing that will happen is: you'll get really drunk .
But the problem is, because it has a very high alcohol content, you can get very drunk very quickly, very badly . Like any strong drink, absinthe should be consumed very responsibly. Drinking too much alcohol,
- Accidents and injuries
- Alcohol poisoning - This is a life-threatening emergency . In such a case, you should be taken to a hospital's Emergency Treatment Unit (ETU) immediately.
- Addiction
- Memory loss
- Ultimately, death may even occur.
If you or someone you know is having trouble controlling their alcohol use, it is very important to talk to your family doctor about it.
Is absinthe legal now? Is it safe?
Yes, absinthe is now legal in many countries. By the 2000s, many countries had lifted the ban. However, in some countries, like the United States, only absinthe without `thujone` is legal.
The answer to the question of whether it's safe is up to you. Absinthe is safe if consumed in moderation, responsibly, and always diluted with water . But remember, the risk is always high due to its high alcohol content.
Take-Home Message
- Absinthe is not a magical drink that performs magic tricks. It is a highly alcoholic drink with a very high alcohol content.
- Stories like the "green fairy" and dementia are mostly myths.
- The real danger associated with absinthe is not the thujone it contains, but the high amount of alcohol (ethanol).
- The most dangerous events recorded in history may have been caused by severe alcohol poisoning or chronic alcoholism.
- If you drink this, it should be done very responsibly, in very small quantities, diluted well with water. Due to its high potency, the risk of alcohol poisoning and addiction is very high.
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