People today searching for an elixir of life are turning to vitamins, supplements, exercise and surgery amongst other things, but finding it in a cocktail could be a lot more fun.
Chartreuse is a green and yellow coloured liquor that has been hailed as an elixir of life for centuries. Originally made as a tonic by Carthusian monks in the Chartreuse Mountains, people started preferring it as a drink because, well, it’s delicious! The recipe for the elixir was written on a 17th century manuscript and entrusted to the monks in1605. It took hundreds of years for the monks to decipher the recipe and produce it and to this day it is shrouded in secrecy. The Carthusian monks take a vow of silence and so the entire process has an air of deep mystery. Chartreuse is still in production but at times can be hard to access precisely because of the way it is produced. A spokesperson for Chartreuse Diffusion said "We wish to allow the monks to remain faithful to their primary vocation of prayer and solitude within their community and thus to preserve the balance of life at the monastery of the Grande Chartreuse. Currently, three monks oversee making the liquor. It is essential that this production does not require more." https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikofgang/2023/06/13/monks-are-making-more-chartreuse-than-they-have-in-100-years-so-why-is-there-a-shortage/
Chartreuse’s green colouring is natural, unlike other green liquors including many types of absinthe which use artificial colouring. This colour probably comes from the secret 130 different herbs that are blended together. In the early 1900s, John Tellman confidently claimed to know a handful of the herbs, which he published in his book The Practical Hotel Steward: “Chartreuse Green is made from cinnamon, mace, lemon balm, dried hyssop flower tops, peppermint, thyme, costmary, arnica flowers, génépi, and angelica roots.” Did he get any of the ingredients right? The monks certainly aren’t telling. https://www.myfermentation.com/other-spirits/history-of-chartreuse-zm0z19fzsta/
The colour chartreuse comes directly from the liquor and describes a shade between yellow and green. There are different shades but it is bright; evoking spring, herbals and freshness. It is also a colour used for safety due to its brightness and it can be hard on the eyes: it is a bold colour, and one that can be intimidating to wear but surprisingly can suit a range of skin tones from light to dark.
In a world drowning in cheap products mass produced in large factories around the world, it’s comforting to know that some things are manufactured whilst retaining their history, locality and reverence. They have not been seduced by big business to produce more and more. In the meantime, let’s skip Pilates and have a chartreuse cocktail instead!