Absinthe

     Happy Halloween everyone! Each year, as spooky season comes along, I think of all the spooky treats and drinks that I enjoy. Today I wanted to share with you a little about one that happens to be a favorite of my husband’s, Absinthe.

What is Absinthe?

     Basically, Absinthe is a botanical spirit that is predominately anise flavored. In short, it tastes like black licorice (eew), but don’t let that stop you from trying it. Each brand of Absinthe has it’s own botanical blend and can vary, quite widely, in taste depending on what herbs are used in it’s creation.

     There are three herbs that make up the “Holy Trinity” of Absinthe; Green Anise (Pimpinella anisum), Florence Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), and Grand Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). Most people would not consider it a true Absinthe if it is not made with these three herbs as a base. Other herbs that Absinthe may be made with include; Peppermint (Mentha piperita), Petite Wormwood (Artemisia pontica), Coriander (Coriandrum sativum), Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis), Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis), Angelica (Angelica spp.), Star Anise (Illicium verum), and Veronica (Veronica spp.). Because of the complexity of flavors in all of these herbs, a good Absinthe is a mysterious flavor. Quite like a good wine. As you taste it, the flavor will evolve. You’ll notice a hit of something hidden behind a wall of flavor, and each stage of your “tasting” may reveal more than you might expect.

     Traditionally, the herbs used in Absinthe make the spirit turn a bright green color. However, there are un-colored, or white, Absinthes that forgo the added green herbs, as well as red or yellow Absinthes that use herbs such as Hibiscus (Hibiscus rosa-sinensis) or Saffron (Crocus sativus).

     Absinthe is a strong spirit, reaching up to 75% ABV, or 150 proof on the strong end of things. And some Absinthes tend to include more than a few bitter elements from the herbs. So the tradition of adding cold water and/or sugar to the spirit came about as a way to address both of these issues. These additions dilute the strong Absinthe and unlock some of the depths and flavor characteristics while adding a bit of sweetness via sugar. Not to mention the really neat effect of Louching. When you add water to an anisette (anise flavored liquor or spirit) it will turn cloudy. Absinthe does this and it’s a beautiful and intriguing reaction.

What is the deal with the Green Fairy?

     Medical potions and decoctions made from wormwood date back to at least Roman times, the invention of Absinthe as we now know it is traditionally credited to one Pierre Ordinaire, a Hugenot doctor who fled France for Switzerland in the mid 1700’s and set up shop in the remote Val de Travers near Neuchâtel. He sold a green medicinal potion as a remedy for a number of ailments ranging from digestive issues, to kidney stones, to worms, and even gout. His potion was soon nicknamed ‘La Fée Verte” or “The Green Fairy” both for its beautiful color and for it’s supposed magical qualities.

     The reign of Napoleon III (from 1852 to his downfall with the Prussian invasion in 1870) was the height of popularity for Absinthe. It was primarily a drink of the military and the fashionable bourgeoisie due to it’s relatively high expense. By the early 1870s, it had become common practice to begin a meal with an apéritif, and of 1500 available liquors, absinthe accounted for 90% of the apéritifs drunk because of the belief that it would “sharpen the appetite.” This lead to the hour of 5 p.m. being deemed L’Heure Verte, or the Green Hour (where our modern Happy Hour comes from) in almost every café. The cafés were an extremely popular place to socialize, since most of Paris’ citizens were living in cramped apartments, often in poverty.

     During the years of 1880 – 1910, Absinthe’s price dropped down low enough that made it accessible to every tier of society. Artists and performers would crowd into the cafés and partake of a little bit of “The Green Fairy” to help gain inspiration. This is where we get the common myth of Absinthe causing hallucinations and even bouts of insanity, as artistic types are not known for abstaining from strong drinks, and Absinthe is one of the strongest (typically being bottled from 45-75% ABV or 90-150 proof). I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen people acting crazy when they’ve had a bit too much vodka or tequila, of course drinking Absinthe to excess would cause insanity.

     Another reason for the myth about hallucinations is a compound that is contained in Wormwood. It contains a chemical compound called thujone, which was thought to be a hallucinogen and rumored to cause transformations in the mind. True, there is a level of toxicity inherent to thujone at extremely high doses. But not in the dose one would encounter by consuming Absinthe. In the U.S., thujone levels in absinthe are capped at 10 milligrams per liter, while absinthe in Europe may have 35 milligrams per liter. Modern science has estimated that a person drinking absinthe would die from alcohol poisoning long before he or she were affected by the thujone.

What are the Medicinal Properties?

     Absinthe gets it’s medicinal properties from the herbs that go into it’s creation. Most of these herbs contain compounds that help with digestion and reduce inflammation. Since each Absinthe recipe varies on which herbs it uses, I’ll just go over the three main herbs and their benefits here.


Grand Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) – Wormwood has a reputation as an extremely bitter herb, and indeed it is. But the same compounds that make it bitter also serve to help our digestion. Improving bile secretion and flow to ensure that our food is properly digested and nutrients are properly absorbed. It also helps to get rid of any parasites that may have moved in, which is where it’s common name comes from. It’s also a great anti-inflammatory herb, helping to provide relief from chronic inflammatory conditions such as arthritis and gout.

Florence Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) – Fennel is used throughout the world as a culinary herb. The plant is often cooked as a vegetable and the seeds are used to flavor a wide range of dishes. However, most people don’t know that it’s also a great carminative. Helping to eliminate flatulence and expel gas.  It’s also a great source of potassium, which can help regulate blood pressure and blood sugar. Fennel seeds are also great to help treat asthma symptoms, as well as to relieve sinus pressure and cough associated with upper respiratory conditions.

Green Anise (Pimpinella anisum) – Anise is another herb used, throughout the world, as a culinary herb. It imparts a sweet, licorice-like, flavor to dishes made world wide. But it is also a medicinal powerhouse, particularly for digestion as it’s a great carminative, helping to relieve flatulence and improve digestion in general. It’s super rich in Iron, and other vital nutrients needed for the production of blood cells. This makes it a great herb to help treat anemia. It also helps reduce the symptoms of depression. It also is a great anti-inflammatory, helping to reduce pain caused by chronic inflammatory conditions. And it also helps to regulate blood sugar.

     I hope I have helped to dispel rumors and peak your interest in this traditionally, medicinal Spirit. Now go out there and get spooky with some Absinthe!

      If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. Follow me on Facebook and Instagram or updates on my adventures in Nature. Find me on YouTube and check out my videos! I also have a few things up on Teespring, check it out! Also, if you like what I do and what to see more, Become a Patron!

Resources:

Absinthe: Scientific American: https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/absinthe-history/

Absinthe – 10 Facts and Myths About the Green Fairy: Pickled Plumb: https://pickledplum.com/absinthe/

Absinthe a Deadly Potion: Medicine Net: https://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=7277

Absinthe and Medicine: The Absinthe Blog: https://www.alandia.de/absinthe-blog/absinthe-and-medicine/

Does Absinthe Really Cause Hallucinations?: How Stuff Works: https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/edible-innovations/absinthe.htm

Effects of Absinthe: Absinthe 101: https://www.absinthe101.com/effects.html

The Devil in a Little Green Bottle – A History of Absinthe: Science History Institute: https://www.sciencehistory.org/distillations/the-devil-in-a-little-green-bottle-a-history-of-absinthe

The Sauvage 1804 Distillation: Absinthes: https://www.absinthes.com/en/themag/news-absinthes/the-sauvage-1804-distillation-emile-pernot-345

Herbal Bitters: A Brief Introduction

It's the Holiday Season! That means it's time to get together with friends and family. Time to share gifts, drinks, and stories. Time to get fat and lazy after eating amazing meals. All of this can be very exciting and wonderful. However, this can do a serious number on your digestion. I figured that I could let you in on a tip to help keep your digestion going strong even after a day of gorging yourself on food you don't normally eat.

Over the years, “Bitter” has gained a bad reputation. The word is most commonly associated with harsh feelings like anger, resentment, and pain. However, “Bitter” can be a wonderful and healthy tool to use. Bitter herbs help digestion, and a number of them are already in our diets. Coffee, most culinary herbs, and leafy greens are just a few examples. Even though we do continue to enjoy our bitter herbs, we don't have enough of them to really use their true potential. If you aren't tasting the bitter flavor, you aren't getting the benefit. But before I dig to deeply into that, here's a basic introduction to the world of Bitters.

Bitter Herbs and Foods:

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are 5 flavors of food. Sweet, Salty, Pungent (sometimes referred to as Spicy or Acrid), Sour, and Bitter. Each of these flavors is associated with certain actions on your digestive system, as well as your body as a whole.

Bitter herbs and foods help to stimulate digestion by triggering the production and/or release of digestive enzymes, hormones, and various digestive secretions (saliva, bile, etc). This action benefits the gallbladder, stomach, liver, pancreas, and just about your whole body. Bitters help us to properly digest proteins, fats, and starches. They help increase nutrient absorption, improve the integrity of the tissues lining the digestive tract, and help to create a protective barrier against pathogens. Most bitters are also cooling in nature, helping to reduce inflammation and rid the body of excess heat. They also help aid the elimination process.

With such a wide range of bitter options available to us, why do so many health professionals think that the modern American diet is all but devoid of bitter flavors? Because sweetening the bitter flavors destroys most, if not all, of the health benefits. So eating those dark leafy greens in your salad is a great choice, but using a salad dressing packed full of sugar negates most of the healthy benefits. This is one of the reasons that herbal bitters are such a great tool for your health.

Herbal Bitters:

The herbal bitters we usually refer to are mixtures of various herbal extracts designed to help aid digestion. There are an unlimited amount of combinations of bitter herbs out there that can be put into these herbal bitters, and many recipes date back thousands of years. Some of the oldest recipes come from the Mediterranean region and date back over 2,000 years ago. Some of the more famous recipes are still in use today, though mostly as cocktail ingredients. The most famous of these is Angostura Bitters which is used in the traditional Old Fashioned. And for those of you who are fans of Gin and Tonic, tonic water started off as a bitter folk remedy as well.

Who Should Take Bitters?:

EVERYONE!

Bitters are great for everyone to use. Pregnant and nursing women should use caution with certain herbs, but an Herbal Bitter formulated with fennel and other gentle herbs can be a great asset, especially since fennel helps increase breast milk production. Those of you who have had problems with your gallbladder, pancreas, liver, or kidneys can benefit tremendously from taking bitters. People who suffer from anemia, or iron deficiency, should think seriously about adding bitters to their diet. Our bodies need bitters in order to properly absorb and use iron.

How Do You Use Bitters?:

I typically recommend using bitters 15 min before you plan on dining. Bitters most often come in liquid extracts with droppers, but occasionally you will find them in spray bottles. In the case of the droppers, take 1-2 dropperfuls, under your tongue. For the spray, spray into your mouth 2-3 times. When in doubt, follow the instructions on the bottle.

Whatever your digestive concern, there is an Herbal Bitters formula out there for you (or you can make your own). I urge you all to talk to a nutritionist, herbalist, or other health professional about adding bitters to your daily routine.

I hope I have gotten you excited about herbal bitters, and I hope that they help you throughout this holiday season. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below.

Where to Buy Great Bitters:

Urban Moonshine

Mountain Rose Herbs

Leaves and Roots

Check out your local Farmer's Markets

There are also several people who sell their herbal products on Etsy

I have also been known to make bitters occasionally. For more information, please contact me directly at BatLadyHerbals@gmail.com

Resources:

5 Reasons Why You Should Eat Bitter Foods and Herbs: Natures Sunshine: http://blog.naturessunshine.com/en/5-reasons-why-you-should-eat-bitter-foods-and-herbs/

10 Reasons to Use Bitters: Hint it All Starts with Digestive Health : Radiant Life: https://blog.radiantlifecatalog.com/bid/70036/10-Reasons-to-Use-Bitters-hint-it-all-starts-with-digestive-health

Benefits of Bitters: Organic Spa Magazine: https://www.organicspamagazine.com/the-benefits-of-bitters/

Digestive Bitters: Better than Probiotics: Gwen's Nest: http://gwens-nest.com/digestive-bitters/

Herbal Bitters: Invaluable Aid to Fat Digestion: The Healthy Home Economist: https://www.thehealthyhomeeconomist.com/bitters-invaluable-aid-to-fat-digestion/

Herbal Medicine: Tonics, Bitters, and Digestion: Healthy.net: http://www.healthy.net/Health/Article/Tonics_Bitters_and_Digestion/862

Natural Healing: Befriending the Bitter Herbs: Mother Earth Living: https://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/natural-healing-bitter-is-better-befriending-the-bitter-herbs

Properties of Food from a TCM Perspective: Shen Nong: http://www.shen-nong.com/eng/lifestyles/food_property_food_tcm.html

Taste and Action of Chinese Herbs: ITM Online: http://www.itmonline.org/articles/taste_action/taste_action_herbs.htm