The wormwood plant is a key ingredient of which green, aniseed-flavoured spirit?

Absinthe is an aniseed-flavoured spirit made from herbs, including the flowers and leaves of 'Artemisia absinthium', also known as grand wormwood. Absinthe has a natural green colour and was referred to in historical literature as "la fée verte" (the green fairy). Ernest Hemingway, Pablo Picasso, Vincent van Gogh, Oscar Wilde, and Erik Satie were all well-known absinthe drinkers.

As well as wormwood, the main herbs used to produce absinthe are green anise and florence fennel. Collectively, they are often called the 'holy trinity'. Wormwood is native to the mild-climate areas of Eurasia and northern Africa. Whilst it is commonly used in absinthe, wormwood is also used in bitters, bäsk, vermouth, and pelinkovac.

'Artemisia', wormwood's genus, comes from the Ancient Greek name for Artemis, the goddess of the hunt, and protector of the forest and children. The name 'absinthum' derives from a word meaning either 'wormwood' or 'undrinkable'.

In the Bible, the Book of Revelation predicts a star named Wormwood plummeting to Earth and turning a third of the Earth's water bitter. Wormwood is a very bitter tasting herb, as is the drink absinthe.