Absinth
The absinth is a strong alcoholic beverage of virescent colour, very bitter, prepared of an extract of a wormwood bitter (Artemisia absinthium). Alcoholic content of an absinth routinely compounds to 70 %, at the Swiss absinth to 80 %.
Into absinth contents enter a wormwood bitter (an armour. Artemisia absinthium), an anise ordinary (an armour. Anisum vulgare), a fennel Italian or sweet (an armour. Foeniculum vulgare).
Traditionally an absinth pour through a strainer with a sugar chunk in a glass with water. After that the beverage becomes hazy-white how essential oils drop out of an alcoholic solution.
In 1792 doctor Pierre Ordiner has written down the prescription of an absinth and became the pioneer of properties of a beverage. The absinth has been invented as a universal remedy; it used as panacea from all illnesses. Therefore in those days the absinth has received the name «La Fee Verte», or «the Green Fairy». This name was fixed to an absinth till now. By means of an absinth stimulated flaccid appetite and stimulated digestion. An absinth added in wine to make its more intoxicating.
The absinth was no time very popular among artists and writers and, for example, was used by Van Gogh, Baudelaire and Verlaine. It seemed that it stimulates creative process. However in the fifties a XIX-th century disturbing by results of its chronic consumption has started to show. It was necessary that chronic consumption of an absinth result ined to a syndrome named an absinthism which was characterised by habituation, superexcitability and hallucinations. This disturbing on absinth influence on health has been enhanced by general belief in the theory of Lamarka about a heredity. In other words, it was necessary that any lines got by consumers of an absinth will be pitched their children. The association of an absinth with a bohemia style of life also has added pavors about its effect as it happens with marihuana in America. Subsequently the absinth has been forbidden in many countries in the beginning of this century.
In 2004 the parliament of Switzerland has voted for legalisation of the absinth forbidden since 1907. On July, 24th, 2004 the court of Amsterdam recognised as invalid the Dutch law from 1909, a forbidding absinth. Now sires of an absinth are obliged to observe the restrictions entered by the European Union according to which the quantity of a thujone in an absinth should not exceed 10 mg/kg.