There are so many misconceptions surrounding absinthe, and it's time to set the story straight. The first evidence of absinthe, in the sense of a distilled spirit containing green anise and fennel, dates to the 18th century. According to popular legend, it began as an all-purpose patent remedy. Absinthe became so popular in bars, bistros, cafés, and cabarets by the 1860s that the hour of 5 pm was called l'heure verte 'the green hour'. The 21st century has seen new types of absinthe, including various frozen preparations, that have become increasingly popular.