Absinthe Sugar: What you need to know

Absinthe Sugar: Key takeaways

• Sugar cubes are essential for drinking absinthe authentically.
• The sweetness of sugar makes absinthe more palatable.
• You don't need sugar cubes for every absinthe. Sometimes it's even better to drink absinthe without sugar.

Sugar in Absinthe: Do you really need it?

Today's topic is a very important one, especially if you're new to the world of absinthe. We are often asked how many sugar cubes are needed to prepare a glass of absinthe. Is one enough? Do you need two, or perhaps no additional sweetness at all? That's precisely why we're discussing this topic in this blog post. We want to shed some light on the matter, especially for those who want to prepare their first glass of absinthe.

Absinthe with sugar cubes: The Absinthe ritual

Sugar, whether as sugar syrup or sugar cubes, is an important component of the classic French absinthe ritual. Below, you can watch our video guide to the traditional way of drinking absinthe with sugar, glass, and spoon. However, sugar is also used in other drinking rituals, for example, when preparing with an absinthe fountain, a pipe, or a brouille. At this point, we recommend our blog post about absinthe rituals. It provides an overview of the different rituals.

Mixing Absinthe: Do I actually need sugar?

We are often asked whether one should actually mix absinthe with sugar or sugar cubes. So why do we use this sweetener?

At the end of the 19th century, when absinthe became popular, sweets were considered a delicacy. Sugar was not yet so widespread, which is why people consumed it very gladly. Sugar was simply something special. Low-carb, no-carb, or other modern diets were not yet conceived. In general, what tasted good was eaten. So sugar was like a candy. People loved it. Furthermore, due to the wormwood, absinthe is a rather bitter drink, which also has a high alcohol content. Sugar was excellent for making absinthe more palatable. Sugar cubes (Absinthe au sucre) or sugar syrup (Absinthe gommée) were used. Old photographs show that absinthe was drunk very sweetly back then. In fact, even more sugar cubes were used back then than we use today!

Drinking Absinthe sweetened

But even today, we drink our absinthe with sugar cube(s). This is due, not least – as it was back then – to the times we live in. Our taste is strongly accustomed to sugar and sweet drinks; just think of various lemonades, juices, and the like. So, we use sugar, also historically, not least because of the pleasant taste. But that's not the only reason why absinthe is mixed with sugar.

Another aspect, especially for nostalgics, is historical accuracy. Absinthe is a spirit with a very rich history; drinking a glass of absinthe is partly always a journey through time. To experience this nostalgic feeling particularly strongly, authentic preparation of the Green Fairy is important. And since absinthe was mixed with sugar cubes back then, it is still done today. Even if it is not always necessary.

Drinking Absinthe unsweetened: Why?

Experienced absintheurs often drink their absinthe without additional sweetness. This allows them to perceive the full flavor of the absinthe without the sweet masquerade of sugar. Moreover, there are some absinthe brands that do very well without sugar. These are often La Bleue Absinthe or white, i.e., uncolored Blanche Absinthe. By omitting the coloring process with added herbs, their taste is less bitter and overall smoother than that of green absinthe. The anise and fennel in absinthe also have a natural sweetness, which in this case is sufficient to make the absinthe taste really good.

A rule of thumb regarding absinthe with sugar cubes is the following: The lower the alcohol content (i.e., % Vol.) an absinthe has, the greater the likelihood that it can be enjoyed without sugar. A typical example here is the previously mentioned Swiss La Bleue Absinthe. This is drunk unsweetened, as it only has an alcohol content of 53% Vol. Furthermore, a La Bleue Absinthe contains a relatively large amount of anise, which naturally makes the absinthe taste sweet.

That's all from our side on the topic of "Absinthe and Sugar." How do you prefer to drink your absinthe? Let us know; we look forward to your feedback!

Greetings from the world of Absinthe,

Your ALANDIA team