absinthiac Report post Posted May 4, 2018 So I'm trying to discover the taste of the basic ingredients of Absinthe. I can spot the Green Anise, as that's the, (hate to say it), licorice flavor, the Grand Wormwood accounts for the bitterness. I can't say that I have tasted fennel and have no idea what it tastes like or what I should be looking for. I would appreciate, if someone could put into words what Fennel tastes like. Thanks for any opinions offered. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Selmac Report post Posted May 8, 2018 That's a little tough to describe for me, because it's very similar to anise. Maybe a bit earthier. If you really want to get to know the different flavors in absinthe, get your hands on some of the raw herbs. I think there might be a set of single-herb distillates out there. I've never tasted those, but I imagine they would be really helpful. To me, Grand Wormwood imparts some of the more ethereal or purely aromatic aspects to a good absinthe. Bitterness really shouldn't be a big part of the equation, unless the Wormwood was used in the coloring. I consider that just wrong, but others might have a different view. I highly recommend getting some fresh wormwood and rubbing the leaves between your fingers. Smell that, and I think you'll start to realize what the plant brings to the overall flavor profile. If you're morbidly curious, taste it. The difference between the smell and the taste is a vivid demonstration of why it needs to be distilled. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
absinthiac Report post Posted May 8, 2018 Thanks Selmac, In another life, I grew wormwood, I remember it was aromatic, I'll try to buy a jar of fennel and wormwood, give it the smell test! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Songcatcher Report post Posted May 25, 2018 Its like anise, with soy sauce. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Conju Report post Posted June 4, 2018 I've always thought of fennel as a grainy (as in malty, but not sweet) version of anise. It's probably bar none my favorite flavor, because it rounds out a lot of otherwise uni dimensional absinthes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jonathan D. Report post Posted June 6, 2018 You can buy fennel in the grocery store, it's quite nice, it's like very mildly licorice-y celery. But be forewarned growing it, this stuff goes what I call "Jurassic" in a hurry!! Between the Florence fennel and bougainvillea, the little side yard at my townhome got pretty crowded. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites