What is Absinthe?

Answer 1

Absinthe is the French word for wormwood. It's pronounced ab´- sant. Wormwood is a plant, or to be more precise, a number of plants classified within the genus Artemisia.

Absinthe is a high proof, controversial herbal liqueur wich is mainly made from Green Anise, Artemisia Absintium, Fennel of Florence and Coriander. Absinthe is a Pastis, like Pernod, it characterised by it's infusion with wormwood. Pastis is of course a type of liqueur.

Answer 2

Absinth (or absinthe) is a distilled spirit. It is made by adding Artemisia absinthium as well as other ingredients to an alcohol base, which is usually either wine or vodka. The herbs are macerated and then distilled. Alcohol, having a lower evaporating point than water, comes out of the still. More herbs are macerated in alcohol to produce the green coloring, and this is added to the distilled spirit. Artemisia absinthium, also known as common or grand wormwood, contains thujone. This is believed to be a psychoactive drug. Other common absinth ingredients, such as fennel, anise, and hyssop, are also believed to have psychoactive properties. However, because of the distillation process, relatively low amounts of thujone actually make it into absinth. You are more likely to get intoxicated from the high alcohol content (55%-72%) than you are to get a high from the thujone. Pernod, another herb-based liquor, is said to be absinth without the wormwood; and Vermouth's original recipe also included wormwood.