The most famous brand. The Czech Absinth

Czech absinthe stands out against any strongalcohol from Europe. You can meet the genuine analogue of this drink only in several places in Prague and (with rare exceptions) within the specialized wine shops. Czech absinthe is actually a herbal tincture with a strength of over 60-80 degrees and an intoxicating aroma. The “Holy Trinity” is the basis of the drink - a combination of three herbs, adjusted according to the recipe and the specifics of the distillery. This alcohol is called dope, because its uncontrolled use has detrimental consequences for the central nervous system, but in small amounts absinthe is practically harmless, and the sensations from the drink are significantly different from those of any other alcohol.

Recipe Features

Czech absinthe is traditionally made according toAn old recipe that is different in every major city. The combination of three herbs - wormwood, fennel and anise remains basic. The drink can also be among the additives chamomile, clove, cinnamon, jasmine, sage, and most medicinal herbs. Absinthe cannot be compared with any other alcohol, because in the recipe there is no fermentation process in the classical meaning of the word. Depending on the selected proportions of certain herbs, the taste palette, the subtleties of the aroma and the peculiar taste of absinthe also vary, which has become common for the Czechs.

However, not every tincture may be called absinthe. Is absinthe a Czech wormwood liquor? No, it is inferior as to the characteristics of the formulation, and strength.

Cooking process

First, the main infusion of herbs undergoes the processextracts on the purest alcohol with a strength of over 90 degrees. After that, the tincture is subjected to distillation and distillation. For the coloring of alcohol in a rich green color, characteristic of this type of drink, use crushed herbs. Thus, the second goal is also achieved - to reveal the taste of additional components, for example, lemon balm, mint, coriander or spices. Over time, the tincture changes color to brown and even golden. This means that the drink went through more than one distillation process and was carried out in accordance with all requirements.

Time-tested stamps

Czech absinthe is a matter of pride forthe indigenous population, however, even in Prague, you can easily find a fake, which was busy among tourists for alcohol. To make your drink more attractive to travelers, the manufacturer adds tinctures and various chemicals to the tincture. Such alcohol cannot be considered genuine and worthy of trust. Some brands of Czech absinthe passed the test of time and secured the status of national.

Perhaps the most famous brand of Czech absinthe- this is "Toulouse-Lautrec". Until 2008, this brand of alcohol retained the status of the best throughout the country. This brand is the most popular and is made for export, having passed the entire certification procedure, so there is no reason to doubt its quality. You can meet him in Prague, and in most major cities of the Czech Republic.

Another famous brand is L’Ancienne,The name of which can be translated as "old". Alcohol under this brand is made according to all ancient traditions and in carefully verified recipes. It is considered "real" absinthe with the closest possible to the ideal proportions of the "Holy Trinity". To meet this drink is much more difficult, you need to look specifically in the institutions of Prague and some other major cities.

Absinthe St.Antoine is the top of the triad of famous brands of Czech absinthe. Also available for export, has the widest palette of taste and aromas. According to the Czechs themselves, the least harmful to the body.

Absinthe with hemp notes

Czech absinthe "Hemp euphoria" - new toa market that quickly gained popularity among buyers. According to the label of the drink, it contains hemp fibers, which increases the stupefying effect of the use of absinthe. Directly in the Czech Republic, such a drink is considered to be an unverified novelty, since it deviates from the usual rules of formulation.

The effect of absinthe on man

Alcohol of this brand is often called"Green fairy". Czech absinthe and euphoria are two identifiable concepts. Alcohol is harmful in itself, but unlike fermentation products, the strength of which does not exceed the limit for the destructive processes in the body, absinthe is harmful even in conditionally small quantities. In this type of alcohol there is also another harmful substance, in addition to the decay products of ethyl, is thujone contained in the wormwood. It can cause a feeling of euphoria, contribute to the take-off of health and even plunge the central nervous system into a state of illusory reality, as is characteristic of narcotic substances.

Is Czech absinthe made with thujone?Yes, since wormwood is a component of the basis of the recipe for any absinthe. Therefore, to use this alcohol should be extremely cautious. With a small dose, the pupils of the person expand, there is drowsiness, apathy, loss of a sense of reality. With increasing doses, a person falls into a kind of narcotic trance, without being aware of the actions and what he has seen and said. He is completely captivated by illusions. With frequent use of absinthe, including Czech, a person develops addiction, there are dysfunctions in the work of the central nervous system. If at the same time a person consumed absinthe of dubious quality from an unknown brand, then the risk of negative consequences increases many times.

How to use absinthe?

Czechs consider their herbal tincture peculiarpart of the cultural heritage and promote the "healthy" use of absinthe. According to their method, alcohol should be served with a small piece of sugar. Absinthe is poured into a glass for a third, sugar is moistened in a tincture, and then set on fire over a glass, after putting it on a teaspoon. When burning it is important to ensure that the sugar does not fall into the glass ahead of time and the liquid does not catch fire. After about a minute, the remaining sugar is stirred in a glass, then gulped it down.

Глюкоза не просто делает настойку менее горькой, It allows you to somewhat reduce the destructive effect of absinthe on the body. For an inexperienced consumer, it is recommended to slightly dilute the drink with cold water and drink absinthe already cooled. Czechs emphasize that the use of absinthe should adhere to the norm, and advise people with poor health to refrain from it.

How to distinguish the original from forgery

Czech absinthe is considered a guarantee of quality, inincluding due to carefully verified recipe. The use of a surrogate damages the body to an immeasurably greater extent than even the most careless fakes of other alcoholic beverages. Before you decide to buy absinthe, you should carefully check the bottle for the presence of suspicious labels or signs. If you skip this step, you can later end up in a hospital bed.

Real Czech absinthe is rarely saturated.green shade of liquid. Most often it is transparent, dull green or even brown. He has a pronounced tart smell of herbs, but not giving away chemical or pharmaceutical preparations. The taste, despite popular opinion, is bitter, but not devoid of softness. Good absinthe is subjected to several distillation cycles, with the result that the frank taste of the herbs is lost in the admixtures of spices and floral aspects.

Attention to details

On a bottle of real Czech absinthe, likeas a rule, it is always written exactly where the drink was produced, its composition, information about the company and even excerpts of the history of a particular brand were indicated. Of course, the most successful option for a person is to buy a bottle of absinthe directly in Prague, after which ask the Czech to clarify the subtleties of using the just purchased drink. The risk of any consequences in this case is less likely, since the Czechs very jealously retain the “positive” reputation of absinthe and oppose the exaggeration of its properties.

The Green Fairy has left its mark on history.of humanity. Absinthe is credited with the properties of the heaviest drugs, including provoking hallucinations. But also this type of alcohol is considered one of the components of creative growth, since it is he who allows to abstract and concentrate on the idea of ​​the creator. In any case, absinthe, like any other dope, including tobacco or alcohol, is harmless only with the use of minimal doses. Even the Czechs, who are incredibly proud of their drink, warn tourists about the dangers of absinthe.