So what, you might ask, is absinthe doing on a blog about healthy eating? Ever since I saw it in the movie “Dracula” with Gary Oldman, I have wanted to try it. The whole process of preparing it is fascinating. However, from 1915 to 2007, it was illegal in the United States. Recently, when I was at a wine tasting, I had the opportunity to try it. I love all things licorice, so I really liked the taste. I can’t say it gave me any hallucinations. It did settle my stomach a bit after tasting several wines on an empty stomach.

Initially, absinthe was a health elixir. It contains wormwood, which was used medically in Egyptian times, and also by the ancient Greeks. However, its high alcohol content and reputation as a hallucinogen made it extremely popular amongst the bohemians of the 1800s. Toulouse Lautrec, Vincent van Gogh, and Oscar Wilde were notorious absinthe drinkers.

It was banned in the US just before prohibition because it was thought to have mind-altering properties. However, it is really no different than any other alcoholic beverage. It has recently enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, and there are now many manufacturers, including French, American, and Spanish companies.

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