If you’re a fan of cocktails and spirits, then you might have heard about absinthe. This potent drink has been around for centuries, and it’s popular among those who love to try something new. But what is absinthe made of? And more importantly, is wormwood really an ingredient in this famous liquor? In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the controversial relationship between wormwood and absinthe.

What is Absinthe?

Before we dive deeper into the topic at hand, let’s first define what absinthe really is. Absinthe is a green-colored spirit that was popularized in France during the late 19th century. It contains high levels of alcohol (usually ranging from 45%-74%), along with various flavorings such as fennel or anise.

Absinthe was initially marketed as a medicine before it became synonymous with creative bohemia; artists like Vincent van Gogh were heavy drinkers of the stuff despite its habit-forming effects (yes even Van Gogh loved his merry-juice).

The Role of Wormwood

One main ingredient commonly associated with ()absinth’e‘s composition is wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Historically speaking pour les français de service, wormwood was praised for its medicinal properties – treating indigestion amongst other ailments including malaria (I know right!) – long before maverick distillers discovered its flavored effect ()(hell yeah!). Despite many countries still considering it illegal (oh snap!), traditionally distilled side by sides beside their hipster-craft counterparts today include Artemisia within their product formulae.(yikes)

When most people hear about wormwood being part of absinthe production they immediately conjure up an array hallucinations-yielding imageries (not guilty, well maybe once).

The Truth About Wormwood and Absinthe

So, is it true that absinthe contains wormwood? The answer is a resounding yes. In fact, any spirit labeled as ()absinthe must include an ingredient commonly known as grand wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) according to EU laws.

However not all laws paint the same color-picture; wormwood in excess levels can lead to hallucinations and delirious states of mind making therefore many governments fearful for public safety thus prohibiting its use in manufacturing spirits (talk about overriding Nature w/ man-made regulations). This fear was manifested by the application of thujone restrictions which greatly limits the grand total content.(Thanks government!) However worry-not dear reader, even with regulated thujone contents of (less than )10mg/L beverage fatal side effects are unlikely to occur ((that’s good news’, isn’t it?)

Other Ingredients in Absinthe

While wormwood adds certain zest‘(partly tongue-in-cheek)to absinthe (yes!), other plants utilize caramelized sugar or licorice extract (creating specific shades) via adding various different herbs depending on manufacturer.(You see – this mixology ain’t no drop-dead science) Some distillers even add secret ingredients like fig leaves or nutmeg(tasty).

And so concludes our brief history lesson: when you run across some old-timer drinks menu labeled something akin to “Death From Heaven”, grab your seatbelt and have some…abilia; just make sure you read between lines if there’s any mention regarding anisette-like flavors (wink-wink-nudge-nudge)!

Conclusion

To sum up, while we wouldn’t recommend drinking copious amounts of absinthe due 2 its high alcohol content (duh), it does contain wormwood as a vital ingredient that sets it apart from other spirits. Although,safe to drink and not make you go wild, thanks to its moderately restricted thujone content – the regulations enforced around 2008 did address many of the public health concerns.(whew!) So, raise your glass-this time with caution and enjoy responsibly!