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How to Buy Absinthe from Absinthe Original
What is Absinthe?
Absinthe is a strong alcoholic liquor made from wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and many other herbs. Absinthe is a deep green drink with a very bitter taste. Absinthe was very popular with 19th century intellectuals, poets and artists such as Degas, Picasso, Oscar Wilde, Vincent Van Gogh and many others. Besides having a very high alcohol content (120 to 160 proof), Absinthe was also said to induce a dreamlike state, enhance creativity and facilitate artistic expression.
What is the history of Absinthe?
Absinthe in some form or another has been used for centuries. Ancient texts mention an early sort of Absinthe, wine soaked wormwood as a vermipurge. In the middle ages, it took on many uses, including superstitious claims that Absinthe warded off the plague. Modern Absinthe's commercial origins date back to 1797, when Major Henri Dubied began marketing a bottled Absinthe in France which eventually came to be known as today's familiar Pernod recipe. Originally a medicine, Pernod's Absinthe began growing in popularity with the artists, writers and intellectuals of the day, attributing some of their finest works to absinthe's creativity-enhancing effect. However, by 1905 a strong anti Absinthe movement emerged, convinced of the danger Absinthe provided through a few well publicized incidents of violence and atrocities committed by absinthe imbibers. By 1908, Switzerland was the first to ban absinthe, by 1923, nearly every country worldwide had an Absinthe ban in place. These days, the Pernod brand continues to be sold but without any thujone in it, the chemical that gives Absinthe its special effects.
What is the active ingredient in Absinthe?
One of the constituents of wormwood, thujone is considered the culprit of Absinthe's "added effect". Naturally
occurring in many plants and flowers, thujone is found in large amounts in wormwood. A thujone has a structure very similar
to THC (tetrahyrdacannaboid). This similarity has lead some to believe that the two substances work similarly upon the brain.
New research indicates, however that thujone blocks GABA-A receptors in the brain which inhibit the firing of brain cells,
once these receptors are blocked, the brain is free to fire at will. This is why despite the very high alcohol content,
Absinthe drinkers report being clear headed, even after consuming amounts of alcohol that would usually put them into a
stupor. The bulk, however of Absinthe's effects is caused by the very high alcohol content.
What about those websites promoting "homemade Absinthe kits?"
Absinthe kits are gaining popularity, being sold on websites and on ebay. Many of these revolve
around the use of essential oil of wormwood or harsh solvents. These are not absinthe. These are poison. Besides being a
rather unpleasant, pale impersonation of real Absinthe, drinking essential oils is not a great way to get "high" but an
excellent excuse to visit the emergency room. Pure essential oil of wormwood can cause renal failure and death due to the
excessive amounts of thujone and neurotoxins found in it. We highly recommend that you do not purchase any of these homemade
absinthe kits.
How do you serve Absinthe?
There are two popular methods for serving Absinthe, both require the use of an Absinthe spoon. This is a large
spoon with open slots in it, allowing liquid to pass through.
Absinthe Louching
- Pour a shot of Absinthe into absinthe glass, place absinthe spoon over the top and place sugar cube on the spoon
- Slowly pour ice cold water over sugar cube, when the water hits Absinthe, it releases essential oils that turn the drink a cloudy.
Absinthe Flame method
- Take a tea spoon full of sugar, or sugar cube and briefly dip it in your glass of absinthe.
- Light Absinthe laced sugar on fire and hold over glass, the burning alcohol will melt the sugar into the
glass.
- When the fire gets low, stir the remaining sugar into the Absinthe and drink.
Is Absinthe legal?
It really depends where you are. Currently, absinthe containing thujone for human consumption is still illegal in some countries. In the United States, Absinthe is not a controlled substance but its sale in bars and liquor stores is banned. Absinthe is however legal to purchase and possess in the United States. In most of the European Union, absinthe may be sold as long as it stays at 35 mg of thujone. In Canada, Absinthe is completely legal, and on sale in some liquor stores.
Is Absinthe safe?
The thujone content of all commercial Absinthes is low enough to cause no harm to the human body. Homemade
Absinthe however can be potentially dangerous. Be aware of the fact that although the thujone content of Absinthe may not be harmful, its high alcoholic content can be. As always, practice moderation when enjoying Absinthe and NEVER DRINK ABSINTHE and drive.
When Do you charge my card - when I order, or when you ship?
When you buy absinthe, your card is verified to be working and to have enough credit available for your purchase, but is not charged. An authorization is requested from the card and the amount of your order of Absinthe is held for us to remove when we ship your Absinthe out.
Is your site secure for credit cards?
Absinthe Original is SECURE liquor store because we go to great efforts to ensure that our site, and your information is secure. In addition to using 256 bit encryption to communicate with the bank, all your contact information is stored in an encrypted database that no unauthorized person can read. For security reasons, we have no access to the credit card information.
It doesn't accept my credit card, how can I order?
There are a variety of reasons why your credit card would not be accepted including a billing information
mismatch, insufficient funds or a hold placed on your card. We would suggest that you verify that sufficient funds are in
your card for your order and that the billing information is exactly as per your invoice. If you still have difficulty, call
or e-mail us and we will be happy to put your order through.
I don't have a credit card, how do I buy Absinthe?
Some of our customers choose to buy absinthe using money order or bank draft. These can easily be obtained from your local bank or post office. Once we receive your money order or bank draft, processing of your Absinthe order is begun and your order would ship out soon afterwards.
I sent a money order, how will I know you received it?
When sending a money order or bank draft to us, we always suggest you either send it priority courier or by
registered mail. In this way you are able to know that we received it and are able to track it if lost. Once we receive your money order or bank draft, processing of your order is begun and your order would ship out soon afterwards. A further notification message is sent as soon as your order is shipped.
If I pay by money order, how will I know how much to pay for shipping?
It is very simple. Shipping rates are based on weight and location. The cost of the item (for insurance) is also
taken into consideration. To see estimated shipping charges, simply place required products in your shopping cart and in the cart section click the link "Calculate Shipping Cost".
How is my Absinthe shipped?
All absinthe orders are packaged in plain cardboard boxes and shipped via Registered International Post.
How long does it take you to ship?
It normally takes between 1-2 business days to process an order. Shipping time takes about 8 business days
depending on your location.
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