My Prague Absinthe Experience

I was randomly walking around Prague ( meaning: lost !) when I found this pub. I have heard about absinthe from many people, and tried it once in Shanghai. But in one of the few countries still making absinthe, I just had to try it.

Absinthe, also known as the Green Fairy, has thujone, compound inside wormwood that is used to make absinthe, giving it its kick. Normal absinthe has already 70%- 75% alcohol AND thujone. Two shots of absinthe and I will be in LaLa-Land. At the height of its popularity, many writers and artists based in Paris drank this for its hallucinogenic properties and claimed that many a famous work was credited to this amazing drink.

From the absinthe pub that I was in, there was two ways to prepare it. One was to do it via water. You drip water onto the sugar cube and let it slowly flow into the drink. Once you think that the water is enough, just enjoy!.


The next method was more kick-ass, it was the fire method. You down it like a tequila ! Almost. Heh. First, you have to quickly dip the sugar cubes into the absinthe. You set aside one on a plate. You let the other one burn, and use it to light the absinthe. Once the sugar cube is dissolved, you down it, then suck on the other sugar cube you had earlier set aside on the plate.


Instant drunkenness guarantee ! It gave a good buzz, tasted quite like sambucca. But i like the water method much better than the fire method. The fire method was nasty, meant to be purchased as a drink for people on their birthdays, stag nights, and other occasions where you want to mess around with them.



The next time if you are ever in Prague, after 7pm when most of the places are closed. Do check out the little lanes behind the National Theater. It is filled with many little local pubs and restaurants, away from the usual tourist areas. Home brewed beer, local food, wine bars, I could see many of the local people just chilling out in them.

My General Impressions of Prague

Arrived at 6am in Prague on a night train, to see mobs of policemen paroling the station. The contrast was strikingly different from Budapest. We were staying in a relatively sleazy part of Prague but as a city, Prague was small and compact. Easily covered by foot, we half dragged ourselves around town.


Prague is separated as two towns, the New Town and the Old Town. The new town looks like a wider, greener Orchard Road. The Old Town is where all the beautiful architecture is.


The city felt like one giant walking postcard. I did not realise how true that was, until the next day, when I went up to Prague Castle. The biggest castle in the world. It felt like Disneyland for adults.




But Prague in general, is really a tourist town. The Old Town that i was referring to is overpriced, filled with tourists and souvenir shops. The attractions are priced almost out of the sky. In order for me to visit the Jewish Museum, even at a discounted student rate & not covering all of its sites, it was a close to a steep S$16. The Prague Castle, except for its free and magnificent cathedral, the rest was junk. Literally.


But look at this photo, who cares if it is or if it is not a tourist town. Breathtaking.