🥃 Wormwood
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a perennial herb with a bitter taste, the basis of absinthe and Pelinkovac; in the EU thujone in its drinks is up to 35 mg/kg.
Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium) is a perennial with a very bitter taste, used in absinthe, vermouth, bitters and herbal liqueurs. For drinks, the leaves and flowering tops are used. The bitter note and aroma come from a complex mixture of substances, among them thujone.
Thujone. It is a monoterpene also found in sage and tarragon. The Wormwood Society writes that it was first isolated from wormwood oil in 1845. A century ago absinthe was blamed for a special illness, "absinthism"; modern researchers consider it an invented syndrome, and name alcohol itself as the main risk.
EU rules. According to Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, in most alcoholic drinks thujone may not exceed 10 mg/kg, and in drinks made from Artemisia species, 35 mg/kg. That is why absinthe on the EU market stays within these limits.
Drinks. Wormwood is the basis of absinthe, vermouth, Pelinkovac in the Balkans and the Alpine Genepi, although Genepi uses other Artemisia species. It is steeped in alcohol, sometimes also distilled together with anise and fennel, as in absinthe. The bitterness and aroma depend on the part of the plant, the time of harvest and the processing, so two drinks with wormwood can differ a lot.
Why this matters to you. The European Medicines Agency describes wormwood as a traditional herbal medicine for adults only, not as a reason to drink a spirit. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Raw material | Artemisia absinthium L.: leaves and flowering tops; active substances thujone and bitter sesquiterpenes |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008, Annex III part B: thujone 10 mg/kg, in drinks made from Artemisia 35 mg/kg |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Wormwood → kind of → 🌿 Anise spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Next step
- 🥃 Absinthe, 🥃 Pelinkovac, 🥃 Hrvatski pelinkovac, 🍷 Maceration
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health
- Related to
- 🍷 Vermouth
- Part of
- 🌿 Anise spirits
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Anise, 🥃 Génépi, 🥃 Tuxedo, 🥃 Tuxedo
Frequently asked questions
What is wormwood?
The herbaceous plant Artemisia absinthium, whose leaves and flowering tops give drinks and bitters their characteristic bitterness.
Is it true that wormwood in absinthe causes hallucinations?
No. Researchers consider "absinthism" an invented syndrome; the main risk of absinthe is alcohol, not thujone.
What is the thujone limit in the EU?
Under Regulation 1334/2008: 10 mg/kg in most alcoholic drinks and 35 mg/kg in drinks made from Artemisia species.
Which drinks contain wormwood?
Absinthe, vermouth, Pelinkovac, Genepi and many bitter liqueurs and bitters.
Is wormwood a medicinal plant?
The EMA recognises traditional medicinal use of tea and extracts for adults; this does not apply to alcoholic drinks.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Maceration — Steeping the juice with the skins to extract colour, tannins and aroma.
- 🥃 Tuxedo — Tuxedo is a classic martini-style IBA cocktail: equal parts of Old Tom gin and dry vermouth, with maraschino, a touch of absinthe and orange bitters.
- 🥃 Hrvatski pelinkovac — Croatian bitter herbal liqueur where wormwood predominates; 27–31% ABV, 100–170 g of sugar per litre; EU protected name since 24.04.2012.
- 🥃 Génépi — Name of high-mountain Alpine wormwood species (Artemisia) and of the sweet, bitter herbal liqueur made from them; Génépi des Alpes is a protected name, at least 30% vol.
Similar
Sources
- European Medicines Agency (HMPC): Absinthii herba — Artemisia absinthium L.; leaf and flowering tops; traditional herbal medicinal use for loss of appetite and mild stomach complaints; adults only; consult a doctor if symptoms last longer than two weeks
- Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 on flavourings, Annex III, Part B: thujone (alpha and beta) — alcoholic beverages except those produced from Artemisia species 10 mg/kg; alcoholic beverages produced from Artemisia species 35 mg/kg
- The Wormwood Society: The Shaky History of Thujone — thujone in Artemisia absinthium, sage and tarragon; first isolated 1845; modern measurements of thujone in absinthe
- Padosch S.A., Lachenmeier D.W., Kröner L.U. Absinthism: a fictitious 19th century syndrome with present impact. Substance Abuse Treatment, Prevention, and Policy 2006, 1:14
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)