The French government could have used the ban on absinthe at the end of the 19th century to spread disinformation in order to sell the surplus of wine. Whether this dramatic event was to blame on thujone, alcohol, a combination of the two, or simply the psychological condition of the man can always be disputed. In this case a Swiss alcoholic murdered his entire family after drinking absinthe. As mostly happens when a substance is banned, often just one serious occurrence was needed to completely spoil the image. According to various governments, it was simply being over-consumed which led to a fictional syndrome: absinthism. The personal problems experienced by van Gogh in the final years of his life were also deemed to be connected with thujone poisoning caused by drinking way too much absinthe.Īt the end of the 19th century, absinthe was suddenly banned in America and also in many European countries. His characteristic visual style is attributed to him drinking much too much absinthe. Following its commercialisation, the drink was quickly picked up by various 19th century artists, of which Vincent van Gogh is undoubtedly the best-known absinthe drinker. Absinthe BannedĪlthough absinthe had been a people’s drink since way back when, it was only in 1805 that it started to be distilled commercially by the Frenchman, Henri-Louis Pernod. In short, absinthe must not contain more than 35 mg of thujone per kilo. This maximum amount is regulated by the EU and is 35 mg thujone per kg of drink that is produced as absinthe from artemisia plants. That is the reason why a limit is set on the maximum amount of thujone permitted in drinks. You can perhaps imagine that thujone and alcohol together exert a vice-like hold on our brain. Thujone actually does the opposite – it reduces the effectiveness of GABA which can make you feel anxious, irritated or even make you experience epileptic attacks. Alcohol reinforces this inhibitive effect which is why alcohol use results in reduced concentration, poor coordination, sleepiness and forgetfulness. GABA plays an important role in our brains. Just like serotonin and melatonin, for example, GABA is a neurotransmitter. Nowadays, we know that, among other things, thujone works as a GABA antagonist. And it was believed that the tumultuous history of absinthe use was attributable to the supposed psychedelic effect of thujone. It was thought for a long time that thujone, in the same way as THC, would activate the cannabinoid receptors in our body and brain. Bitterness and menthol together are what produces the aniseed-like taste. Thujone is a terpene and gives a menthol-like taste to this bitter drink. Next we come to the notorious substance thujone – a natural ingredient of absinthe which has made the drink infamous. This natural anti-inflammatory is what gives absinthe its characteristically bitter taste. Absinthine is one of the bitterest substances you can imagine. The key ingredients in wormwood are absinthine and thujone. ![]() Other ingredients may include the herbs lemon balm, speedwell, hyssop and artemisia pontica. The buds from which the flowers are formed are the main ingredient of absinthe, and also the liquor vermouth.Ībsinthe is green thanks to the chlorophyll of the artemisia plant – not to be confused with artemisia trouwens – that is a species of lobster. The plant that also goes by the sinister English name of wormwood, reaches about a metre in height and has attractive yellow flowers. The ingredients of the bitter and aniseed-flavoured distilled drink include the perennial Artemisia absinthium, a plant that occurs in Europe, North Africa and Asia. If you want to find the answer, you need to see what absinthe is made from. ![]() Whether or not that’s true, we will reveal shortly. You may know absinthe as the green liquor that is rumoured to cause hallucinations. ![]() But is that the case? Which ingredient would cause you to see the supposed green fairy of absinthe? Is it the controversial substance thujone, or simply the enormous alcohol percentage that makes you incapable of knowing what is and what isn’t real? We are going to investigate a green drink that perhaps would be more at home in the smartshop than in the off-licence. Absinthe: the mysterious and notorious liquor which ‘according to tradition’ makes you hallucinate.
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