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Absinthe |
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Absinthe |
| Absinthe is a strong herbal liqueur distilled with a great number of flavorful herbs like anise, licorice, hyssop, veronica, fennel, lemon balm, angelica and wormwood (the flavor of anise and/or licorice, at least in contemporary forms of the liquor, tends to predominate). Wormwood, the one that's gained the most notoriety, is Artemisia absinthum, an herb that grows wild in Europe and has been cultivated in the United States as well. Much of the liquor's legendary effect is due to its extremely high alcohol content, ranging from 50% to 75% (usually around 60%), plus the contribution of the various herbs. It has been assumed by many that the so-called "active ingredient" in absinthe is wormwood, although that is apparently not really the case. |
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Absinthe is referred to as "La Fée Verte", or The Green Fairy, which is a reference to its often dazzling green color (depending on the brand). The color usually came from the herbs used in the distillation process. |
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| Absinthe was served with ice water and a sugar cube, Ice water is dripped onto the sugar cube and strained into a glass. A special spoon with holes in the bottom is used to strain the mixture. when the Absinthe has mixed with the water and sugar it will turn a milky green or yellow depending on which absinthe you are drinking. This milky effect is known as the louche. |
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