Absinthe, - The "Green Fairy" Of the Early 20th Century, - especially in very Bohemian Paris, and that's pronounced "Pear-ee"!...

This blog is about green growing things and herbs and flowers, BUT, back in Paris of the early 20th century, - think: the infamous Moulin Rouge, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec , and Can-can girls wearing black fish net stockings and very short satin, lacy bustles, the term "Green Fairy" meant the wickedly addictive and potent drink named Absinthe.

There was a particular style for drink absinthe.  It was a liquor that turned white when cold water was poured into it through a special slotted spoon on which a sugar cube was balanced.  Absinthe has a licorice taste and is very strong.  It also contains the poisonous herb wormwood.  I have tasted it and I don't like it.  But, then, I don't like licorice, either. 

Hmmm...  I found among my grandma's things, after she died, a beautiful, very ornate absinthe spoon. 

Absinthe used to be illegal in this country, but now, I'm not so sure about that.  Those who were dedicated absinthe drinkers in the time of the infamous Moulin Rouge risked brain damage from the drink. [It features in a segment in the movie, "Moulin Rouge", with Nicole Kidman and Ewan Mc Gregor.]  I hear you can buy a certain type of absinthe in most large liquor stores in the United States and it's about 110 proof.  In Europe, I hear, it is about 180 proof.  You can get absinthe on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, where they have special absinthe machines. 

But...  No thanks.