| Absinthe Herbs I - Wormwood |
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Absinthe is an alcoholic aperitif made from alcohol and distilled herbs or herbal extracts, chief amongst them grand
wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and green anise, but also almost always including 3 other herbs: petite wormwood
(Artemisia pontica, aka Roman wormwood), fennel, and hyssop. Some regionally authentic recipes also call for additional
herbs like star anise (badiane), sweet flag (aka calamus), melissa (aka lemonbalm or citronnelle), angelica (both root and
seed), dittany (a type of oregano grown in Crete), coriander, veronica (aka speedwell), marjoram or peppermint.
Grand wormwood (also, rather confusingly, known as Common wormwood) is the distinctive ingredient that gives absinthe
its unique character. Grand and petite wormwood were historically cultivated near Pontarlier in the Doubs region of east
France and in the adjoining Val de Travers in Switzerland, the two traditional homes of absinthe, while the other herbs were
shipped in: fennel from the Gard region of France and even from Italy, the anise from the Tarn region or from Andalusia.
Grand wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, to give it its correct Latin name is a herb related to the daisy family. From
ancient times it has been prized as one of the most valuable medicinal herbs. An Egyptian papyrus from 1600BC
recommends wormwood as a stimulant and tonic, an antiseptic, and a remedy for fevers and period pains. Pythagoras
thought that wormwood leaves in wine would ease childbirth, and Hippocrates also recommended it for period pains, as well
as anemia and rheumatism. Today, wormwood oil, the oil obtained from Artemisia absinthium, is used as a counter-irritant in
many common over-the-counter pharmacy products, including Vicks Vaporub.
The chemical name for the principle active ingredient in wormwood is thujone. Thujone is a terpene and is related to
menthol, which of course is known for its healing and restorative qualities. In its chemically pure form, it is a colourless
liquid with a menthol-like aroma. Oil of Artemesia absinthium is typically approximately 60% thujone. Thujone – pronounced
"thoo-jone" with a soft 'J' – is a naturally occurring substance, also found in the bark of the thuja, or white cedar, tree, and in
other herbs besides wormwood - including tansy and the comon sage used in cooking. Aside from absinthe, other popular
liquors, including vermouth, Chartreuse, and Benedictine, also contain small amounts of thujone. In fact, vermouth, which
was originally made using the flower heads from the wormwood plant, takes its name from the German "wermut".
Extremely high doses of thujone are dangerous, and have been shown to cause convulsions in laboratory animals, but the
concentration of thujone actually found in absinthe is many thousands of times lower than this.
wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) and green anise, but also almost always including 3 other herbs: petite wormwood
(Artemisia pontica, aka Roman wormwood), fennel, and hyssop. Some regionally authentic recipes also call for additional
herbs like star anise (badiane), sweet flag (aka calamus), melissa (aka lemonbalm or citronnelle), angelica (both root and
seed), dittany (a type of oregano grown in Crete), coriander, veronica (aka speedwell), marjoram or peppermint.
Grand wormwood (also, rather confusingly, known as Common wormwood) is the distinctive ingredient that gives absinthe
its unique character. Grand and petite wormwood were historically cultivated near Pontarlier in the Doubs region of east
France and in the adjoining Val de Travers in Switzerland, the two traditional homes of absinthe, while the other herbs were
shipped in: fennel from the Gard region of France and even from Italy, the anise from the Tarn region or from Andalusia.
Grand wormwood, or Artemisia absinthium, to give it its correct Latin name is a herb related to the daisy family. From
ancient times it has been prized as one of the most valuable medicinal herbs. An Egyptian papyrus from 1600BC
recommends wormwood as a stimulant and tonic, an antiseptic, and a remedy for fevers and period pains. Pythagoras
thought that wormwood leaves in wine would ease childbirth, and Hippocrates also recommended it for period pains, as well
as anemia and rheumatism. Today, wormwood oil, the oil obtained from Artemisia absinthium, is used as a counter-irritant in
many common over-the-counter pharmacy products, including Vicks Vaporub.
The chemical name for the principle active ingredient in wormwood is thujone. Thujone is a terpene and is related to
menthol, which of course is known for its healing and restorative qualities. In its chemically pure form, it is a colourless
liquid with a menthol-like aroma. Oil of Artemesia absinthium is typically approximately 60% thujone. Thujone – pronounced
"thoo-jone" with a soft 'J' – is a naturally occurring substance, also found in the bark of the thuja, or white cedar, tree, and in
other herbs besides wormwood - including tansy and the comon sage used in cooking. Aside from absinthe, other popular
liquors, including vermouth, Chartreuse, and Benedictine, also contain small amounts of thujone. In fact, vermouth, which
was originally made using the flower heads from the wormwood plant, takes its name from the German "wermut".
Extremely high doses of thujone are dangerous, and have been shown to cause convulsions in laboratory animals, but the
concentration of thujone actually found in absinthe is many thousands of times lower than this.
A dried sample of Artemisia Absinthium
collected in April 1891. Click to enlarge.
collected in April 1891. Click to enlarge.
Artemisia Absinthium from Köhler's Medizinal-Pflanzen in naturgetreuen
Abbildungen published in 1887. Click to enlarge.
Abbildungen published in 1887. Click to enlarge.
A late 18th century botanical sketch
of an absinthe plant. Click to enlarge.
of an absinthe plant. Click to enlarge.
Chromo-lithographed card issued by chocolate manufacturer
Felix Potin as part of a series on herbs with medicinal properties.
Click to enlarge.
Felix Potin as part of a series on herbs with medicinal properties.
Click to enlarge.
A pharmacy bottle for tincture of absinthe, circa 1910.
A circa 1850 label for medicinal wormwood extract produced by the
New York Shaker community based in New Lebanon, where they
had developed a successful herb and medicinal supplies industry.
New York Shaker community based in New Lebanon, where they
had developed a successful herb and medicinal supplies industry.
A US patent medicine: J.E.Fish's Wormwood Ointment.
Click to enlarge.
Click to enlarge.
An absinthe harvest
festival in the Doubs.
Click to enlarge.
festival in the Doubs.
Click to enlarge.
Early photos showing the harvesting
of absinthe and the drying of of the
stalks on racks.
Click here for photos of absinthe
cultivation in Pontarlier today.
Click on the images to see enlarged
versions.
of absinthe and the drying of of the
stalks on racks.
Click here for photos of absinthe
cultivation in Pontarlier today.
Click on the images to see enlarged
versions.
| Dried wormwood stalks from the Pontarlier region are carefully stripped before use - tedious and dusty work! |
| Wormwood after stripping. The bucket holds just over 5kg. |
| Artemisia Pontica, also known as Petite Absinthe, is sometimes included in the macerate, but is primarily a herb used in the colouring step. |
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| Some of the pictures on this page used by kind permission of Damian Hevia.Unauthorised reproduction strictly prohibited. This website and all its contents Copyright 2002- 2007 Oxygenee Ltd. No pictures or text may be reproduced or used in any form without written permission of the site owner. |
