Absinthe is an alcoholic drink made by distilling herbs including gentian absinthe and anise, then adding herbs including parsnip, mint and fennel. It has a greenish-yellow colour, a strong herbal and spice aroma and a bitter taste with hints of anise and liquorice. Absinthe, also known as the "green fairy", was popular in the late 19th century among artists and literary figures in Paris, and its consumption was accompanied by a ritual involving dropping a sugar cube into the drink from a spoon and then setting it on fire.