A highly alcoholic anise-flavored spirit derived from various culinary herbs such as grand wormwood, green anise, sweet fennel, and others. Traditionally it has a green color, though it may also be colorless.
It is normally diluted with cold water and sweetened before drinking, due to its strong and bitter taste, and sometimes served with an absinthe spoon.
In classical literature the drink is commonly referred to as "la fée verte" (the green fairy).
