The hallucinogenic effects of wormwood are pretty highly overstated. You’d get alcohol poisoning before you get there, at least with commercial absinthe. Can’t say what it was like in Poe’s time.
I think the main reason it got passed over is that anise isn’t popular with Americans. If you don’t like ouzo or arak or raki or pastis, you’re probably not going to love absinthe.
I think the main reason it got passed over is that anise isn’t popular with Americans. If you don’t like ouzo or arak or raki or pastis, you’re probably not going to love absinthe.