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| quote: | Originally posted by feelgood
Is there somewhere where you can purchase proper absinthe around the GTA? not the 'flavoured' stuff.. the real wormwood stuff. |
All absinthe is distilled at least in part from wormwood. I think what your interested in is the level of thujone present in the absinthe, the ingredient historically believed to be responsible for absinthe's supposed hallucinogenic effects.
I'm no expert, but I believe the current research on absinthe suggests that, in whatever form you get it, it's really nothing more than extremely potent alcohol. The hallucinogenic properties of wormwood/thujone have not been properly established (which is in part why countries like the United States have finally fully legalized absinthe.)
Wikipedia has this to say:
| quote: | | "Today it is known that absinthe does not cause hallucinations, especially ones similar to those described in 19th century studies. Thujone, the supposed active chemical in absinthe, is a GABA antagonist and, while it can produce muscle spasms in large doses, there is no evidence that it causes hallucinations. It has been speculated that reports of hallucinogenic effects of absinthe may have been due to poisonous chemicals being added to cheaper versions of the drink in the 19th century, to give it a more vivid color.[55]" |
As always, it's the open-source encyclopedia so, you know, caveat emptor.
Absinthe tastes absolutely awful, is expensive as shit, and as far as I know isn't going to do anything but get you drunk. I wouldn't be surprised if this whole absinthe craze dies out and we all get to stop hearing about the super-potent shit that your brothers-cousins-friend smuggled back from Prague.
Of course, if anyone here has better info, I'm all ears...
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"angelheaded hipsters burning for the ancient heavenly connection to the starry dynamo in the machinery of night" -Allen Ginsberg
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LOL ... 
