November 28, 2009
Finding the Green Faeries in New Orleans
So what is Absinthe and what’s the appeal? And further, where do Green Faeries come from? The power and attraction of Absinthe lies in its inherent contradictions, though fortified with a formidable measure of alcohol, it is also infused with powerful herbal stimulants, creating a psychic tug of war in the mind of the imbiber.Thus, Green Faeries are born.
So where did Absinthe originate from? It originated in Switzerland as an elixir. At the height of its use, the most popular brand of Absinthe was Pernod Fils and that was worldwide. In 1915, it was banned in a several European Countries and in the United States.
In the 1990′s, Countries in the European Union began to reauthorize the manufacture and sale of Absinthe laying the foundation of the return of the Faerie.
Hemingway took his first taste while visiting Spain in 1920 and fell in love with the Faerie, continued in Paris, then carried the practice home to the U.S. He would smuggle bottles from Spain and Cuba and kept it by his typewriter as a means of instant inspiration.
The most popular misconception about Absinthe is that it is a drug. According to http://www.feeverte.net/faq.html that just simply isn’t the case.
Absinthe is a strong herbal liqueur distilled with a great number of flavorful herbs like anise, licorice, hyssop, veronica, fennel, lemon balm, angelica and wormwood (the flavor of anise and/or licorice, at least in contemporary forms of the liquor, tends to predominate). Wormwood, the one that’s gained the most notoriety, is Artemisia absinthum, an herb that grows wild in Europe and has been cultivated in the United States as well. Much of the liquor’s legendary effect is due to its extremely high alcohol content, ranging from 50% to 75% (usually around 60%), plus the contribution of the various herbs. It has been assumed by many that the so-called “active ingredient” in absinthe is wormwood, although that is apparently not really the case.
When visiting Festiva Resorts, there are several places to go that are within walking distance of the Frenchmen Orleans to sample and learn more about this infamous drink.
The Old Absinthe House
240 Bourbon Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
The Green Room Ultra Lounge
(Next to the House of Blues)
209 Decatur Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
Absinthe Museum of America – La Maison d’Absinthe
823 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA 70130
October 2, 2009
Hello world!
Welcome to the Festiva Resorts New Orleans Blog! We will use this Blog to keep visitors updated on events, local information, businesses, activities and attractions in the New Orleans area.
This is a brand new Blog, so please continue to visit us and look for some exciting updates soon!
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