Absinthe: The Green Hour is back in action!
Absinthe is back in circulation in places where it was banned ages ago. Connoisseurs of absinthe and other liquor must be a happy with this development. They will relish the ready availability of absinthe after the lifting of the ban. Drinking of absinthe had become so much a part of culture that at the time it was banned it must have elicited strong reactions from either side. For many, Absinthe had become a compelling reason for looking forward to evenings.
Absinthe: Stuff of great evenings
Absinthe became hugely popular in the late 19th century across Europe. The popular cocktail hour, in fact, came to be known as green hour, in recognition of this trend. The huge popularity of the drink had an adverse effect on the sales of other alcoholic beverages. It quickly made drinking other drinks out of vogue.
Many people had the habit of visiting the bars at this time of the day. Most of them did so as a routine and made it a part of their daily trudge back home from work. At its height, one can imagine, that it must have been an hour that these folks looked forward to. It was a ritual they enjoyed to participate in.
Artists enjoyed this routine, in particular. It was a perfect way for them to enjoy evening times. After the hustle and bustle of a harsh day, they probably sighed in anticipation of this part of their evenings. It probably gave their minds relief against the reality of existence.
Artists like the writer Poe and van Gogh were passionate about the drink. The experience was so personal to them that they created their own way of drinking it. Van Gogh began took it with turpentine oil. Poe used to take his after mixing it with tears. This passionate association of artists to the drink lent it a bohemian image. More people were drawn to this drink, as a result.
When the popularity of the drink reached a crescendo, the ban brought it crashing down to earth. It was banned in many countries of Europe and in the US.
Evenings are back to how they used to be
Absinthe was originally taken as a medicine by soldiers. They took it as a cure for fever and stomach ailments. Liking the taste of the drink they continued to drink it even otherwise. It was taken daily and they reported no adverse effects after taking it.
Problems crept up when the demand for the drink became so great that the supply was incapable of meeting it. Some producers seeking to encash on the situation, deviated from the original recipe and made it according to their own fancy. Ingredients not present in the original drink began causing problems like convulsions and even death.
Absinthe, which is more of alcoholic nature, cannot give such symptoms unless drunk in gross amounts. It is made from herbs like wormwood, hyssop, fennel and anise. Wormwood and thujone are reportedly dangerous only when taken in substantial amounts.
This might be the basis why the world has again opened its arms to the drink and made evenings as they once used to be.