Absinthe spoons,Absinthe glasses, fountains, drippers and brouillers are all collectively known as Absinthiana and are the accoutrements used in the preparation of Absinthe. The price of such antiques and collectibles are quite substantial because of highly valued original items.
If you cannot afford original Absinthiana then you can buy replicas from companies such as AbsintheKit.A person can go through AbsintheKit.com for the preparation of perfect Absinthe.
Types of Absinthe Spoons
Absinthe spoons, cuilleres, were introduced in the 1880s to make Absinthe preparation easier. Previously perforated cups over Absinthe glasses had been used. Sugar and water drip into the absinthe through the slotted part of these spoons.
Different metal are used to make different shapes and size of Absinthe spoons. Marie-Claude Delahaye, a historian specializing in Absinthe history, has concluded that there are over 375 different types of Absinthe spoon.
The French Pelle is the most common type of spoon shaped like a trowel which includes the pretty “les feuilles d’Absinthe”. Also in this group is the famous spoon design featuring the Eiffel Tower which was designed to commemorate the opening of the Eiffel Tower in 1889.
One can also get the second group of Absinthe spoons known as “les Grilles” or “Les Grillagees”. One can also buy “Les cuilleres” having a long handle and a cradle to hold the cube of sugar.
“Les Cuilleres de Poilus” is considered as one of the most popular Absinthe spoons. French soldiers created these Cuillere spoons using the materials like shell casings, aluminum, tin and brass. These spoons were only made at the start of the war because Absinthe was banned in France in 1915. Soldiers designed these spoons according to their drinking cups. These beautiful and unique spoons are now kept as highly collectible antiques.
Absinthe was banned because of the alleged psychedelic and psychoactive effects of thujone, the chemical found in the herb wormwood which is a major ingredient in Absinthe. Several nations legalized Absinthe in the 1990s after it was claimed that Absinthe was no more harmful than any other strong liquor and contained only small quantity of thujone.
The Absinthe Ritual
There is a ritual to be followed by lovers of the Green Fairy (Absinthe). It is necessary to have these items to prepare the perfect Absinthe
– Getting an Absinthe spoon
– Different types of Absinthe Glass
– Absinthe
– Iced water is necessary
Some people would also say that an Absinthe fountain, brouiller or carafe should be used for the water.
The process of preparing Absinthe
– Pour approximately 25-50ml of Absinthe into your glass.
– One need to place a sugar cube on the resting Absinthe spoon.
– The iced water should be slowly dripped onto the sugar cube. You should begin to see the louche happening from the bottom of the glass.
Louching or clouding is the result of insolubility of the essential oils in water. The appearance of finished drink should be milky or cloudy.
Depending on taste the ratio of water and Absinthe should lie between 3:1 and 5:1.
Using Absinthe spoons and other Absinthiana makes the Absinthe ritual full of fun.