Monstrous

Witches Brew => Pagan Living => Topic started by: emptyvoid on July 24, 2006, 03:14:44 PM

Title: absinthe
Post by: emptyvoid on July 24, 2006, 03:14:44 PM
I have been reading alot about the new rage to drink absinthe.  Do you think it really has hallucinagenic properties?  Is this a load of crap?  What other herbs could have this affect without causing death?  I was wondering what to watch for with my kids.

Empty Void
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Devious Viper on July 24, 2006, 03:38:44 PM
The ingredient which supposedly causes the hallucinations is thujone.

Quote from: Journal of Studies on Alcohol (Vol65, No.5, Sept 2004)
A high concentration of thujone in alcohol has negative effects on attention performance. It slowed down reaction time, and subjects concentrated their attention in the central field of vision. Medium doses did not produce an effect noticeably different from plain alcohol. The high dose of thujone in this study was larger than what one can get from current beyond-EU-regulation "high thujone" absinthe before becoming too drunk to notice, and while the effects of even this high dose were statistically significant in a double blind test, the test subjects themselves could still not reliably identify which samples were the ones containing thujone. The deleterious effects of absinthe as well as its hallucingenic properties are a persistent myth often repeated in modern books and scientific journals with no evidence for either.
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Weirdelicious on July 24, 2006, 03:58:25 PM
I've heard that Absinthe was banned and they brought it back but it's less harmful and now called "Versinthe"

http://www.versinthe.net/

You probably knew that but there's the link anyway, for your pleasure!  :wink:
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: emptyvoid on July 24, 2006, 06:17:12 PM
From what I understand the main danger is alcohol poisoning due to the high alcohol content created during the distilling process.  I have heard several of my kids' friends talk about this drink and was wondering about its availabilty to minors.  Can't be too careful I say!!   They'll have enough time to mess up later when they are out of my house.... Thanks for the links.  EV 
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Weirdelicious on July 24, 2006, 06:23:45 PM
No problem!  :wink:
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: jordyn on July 24, 2006, 11:20:07 PM
the harmless versions of absinthe are made with no wormwood...and it seems it's the scientific name of this intoxicating herb that gave it the name...

the secret ingredient (http://www.ghorganics.com/Wormwood.html)

a bad mixture with high alchol content(yukon jack is 100 proof) so that alone shouldn't kill you, if you drink it responsibly...but here's more information and a recipe! (http://nepenthes.lycaeum.org/Plants/Artemisia/absinthe.html)  ;)
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Devious Viper on July 25, 2006, 02:57:01 AM
psst...

Thujone (C10H16O) is the "secret ingredient", the active chemical in wormwood, most notably the Artemisia absinthium. Anybody who enjoys even vaguely hallucinogenic experiences from drinking absinthe (regardless of how much wormwood is in it) is in fact experiencing "the placebo effect" and is someone that we in England would call, "a cheap night out"  :wink:
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: jordyn on July 25, 2006, 08:39:14 AM
psst...

Thujone (C10H16O) is the "secret ingredient", the active chemical in wormwood, most notably the Artemisia absinthium. Anybody who enjoys even vaguely hallucinogenic experiences from drinking absinthe (regardless of how much wormwood is in it) is in fact experiencing "the placebo effect" and is someone that we in England would call, "a cheap night out"  :wink:

you and your science...like anyone else would know that.   :roll:
why didn't you just say wormwood in the beginning? 

i don't imagine it tastes anything spectacular...especially if it's anything like chartreuse...never by a pretty liquor just because it's supposed to be some amazing elixer by obscure french monks.   :-P

i'll stick with a nice honey ale...or a sweet,  mixed concoction...if i want to hallucinate, i'll go into our woods and find a nice mushroom patch.  *grins wickedly*
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Devious Viper on July 25, 2006, 09:03:06 AM
when I was about 16 or so i used to drink a lot of absinthe - Pernod fils - but its a kind of phase that you grow out of as you realise that it costs an arm and a leg for a couple of mouthfuls, and gets you too drunk to... dance at the end of the night.
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Weirdelicious on July 25, 2006, 09:18:32 AM
Rhum and Porto, Porto and Rhum and once in a while some Guinness! Never tasted Absinthe...
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: jordyn on July 25, 2006, 09:22:06 AM
Rhum and Porto, Porto and Rhum and once in a while some Guinness! Never tasted Absinthe...

neither have i...there's so much else out there to taste...

" so i used to drink a lot of absinthe - Pernod fils - but its a kind of phase that you grow out of as you realise that it costs an arm and a leg for a couple of mouthfuls, and gets you too drunk to... dance at the end of the night"

i've seen that happen to men, it's really detrimental to the female ego, dancing with him, at the end of the night.  :P

what does the stuff taste like?
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Devious Viper on July 25, 2006, 10:42:26 AM
aniseed
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: jordyn on July 25, 2006, 10:51:00 AM
aniseed

sort of a licorice flavor than, i hear it's really bitter.
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Weirdelicious on July 25, 2006, 11:19:36 AM
Yummers!  :crazy:
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Devious Viper on July 25, 2006, 11:41:08 AM
It can be, but I think its an acquired taste, plus different people appreciate different flavours. I never really thought it tasted bitter, but then at the same time I don't like the taste of Guinness.

Licorice... close, but not quite the same. I'm trying to think of something else that has a strong aniseed flavour, and failing  :| Over here, we have (perhaps you'd call them suckers?) "aniseed balls"; its a stronger version of that taste.
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: emptyvoid on July 25, 2006, 05:26:23 PM
Just a couple of shots of tequila and I'm good.  I don't want to hallucinate.  Bad dreams!!

Empty Void
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: jordyn on July 26, 2006, 12:02:00 AM
It can be, but I think its an acquired taste, plus different people appreciate different flavours. I never really thought it tasted bitter, but then at the same time I don't like the taste of Guinness.

Licorice... close, but not quite the same. I'm trying to think of something else that has a strong aniseed flavour, and failing  :| Over here, we have (perhaps you'd call them suckers?) "aniseed balls"; its a stronger version of that taste.

there's a company that puts out old fashioned candy, and one of them is aniseed, i've never been big on black licorice...occasionally i'll get a nib or mix...but not often.
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: Morticia on July 29, 2006, 11:19:31 AM
Just a couple of shots of tequila and I'm good.  I don't want to hallucinate.  Bad dreams!!

Empty Void

Sounds good to me; how about a margarita or three?

~Morticia :crazy:
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: jordyn on July 29, 2006, 10:55:22 PM
Just a couple of shots of tequila and I'm good.  I don't want to hallucinate.  Bad dreams!!

Empty Void

Sounds good to me; how about a margarita or three?

~Morticia :crazy:

it's a date!

that's about the only way i can deal with tequila.  *shudders*

i used to be able to stomach hard liquor, but now i've become a lightweight...a few copper camels and a white russian or two and i'm all sorts of, tipsy.
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: prezhorusin04 on July 30, 2006, 12:12:09 AM
Quote
white russian or two

 :crazy:
Title: Re: absinthe
Post by: jordyn on July 30, 2006, 06:38:17 AM
Quote
white russian or two

 :crazy:

would a black russian be any better?   :wink: