Sassafras Tea

BrianS · February 8, 2009

I'm sure that most of you have heard of it, how many have actually made it?
Here in the Ozarks of South Missouri it grows everywhere! From now to end of March is a great time to make tea from the root.
Start out by digging a few roots and wash them in the sink to remove as much dirt as possible.
Then place the roots in a pan with water like this

Turn the heat on and bring to a hard boil for about 15-25 minutes

Pour the liquid through a towel or other cloth for straining purposes. Pour in a cup and add sugar. Be liberal on the sugar as it is pretty strong

stormymater · February 8, 2009

we used to dig sassafrass rootlets & chew them as we dug our forts as a kid! Great taste!

veggie babe · February 9, 2009

brings back fond memories,my grandfather loved to make the tea and drink it. i would never drink it with him,now i wish i had.

neva

Wi-sunflower · February 9, 2009

I love it. It doesn't grow as far north as Wi, but it's wild where Hubby grew up in north Indiana. He indroduced me to it.

It's actually the flavoring for REAL root beer.

Something else about the Sassafrass tree, you southerners probably already know -- the young leaves, picked, dried and ground up are the File' powder for "file' gumbo".

Carol

cottonpicker · February 9, 2009

yep.... brings back memories of my childhood in OK. Learned to enjoy it with my grandma & Mom's oldest sister. They always brewed it in early springtime for a "blood purifier". Don't know anything about the purification part but it "shore nuff" did taste good!!!!!

ReaverG · February 9, 2009

Sure does taste good. It's been a few years since I've made some but I'm sure I'll dig up some this spring now that I've been reminded of how good it tastes.
I remember how my mom would tell me I couldn't make it because of how dangerous the stuff was. But what isn't?

Worth1 · February 9, 2009

We did when I was young in southern MO but we don't have it here in this part of TX. Too bad as I love the stuff.
I do use Gumbo File In gumbo it it made from the leaves.
http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start...mWJ824ztV6gP3w

Worth

BrianS · February 9, 2009

Worth, what part of So Mo were you in?

Penny · February 10, 2009

Ok, i guess i am the only one that has never heard of it before

Tormato · February 10, 2009

Not to be an alarmist, but sassafras is considered to be a carcinogen. It's up to each of us to make our own decision about consuming it.

Gary

**coronabarb** · February 10, 2009

Hi Gary,

I don't know anything about sassafras. Who considers it to be a carcinogen? Do you have some links we can look up?

Thanks,

BrianS · February 11, 2009

If you google this it does say this somewhere. I read it also. Keep in mind that consumption of anything in excess is not gonna be good for you. I doubt just drinking a cup of it once in awhile will do you any harm

Worth1 · February 11, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianS

Worth, what part of So Mo were you in?

10 miles north of Mountain Grove.

We had about 300 acres of land and the trees were everywhere.
In the summer we would go frog hunting and have craw dad fights at the creek.

Nothing like a big ole mess a fried bull frog legs, biscuits, gravy and sassafras tea.

I miss that place just like I do the place we had in south east Oklahoma close to a place called Talihina.

Worth

Tormato · February 11, 2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by coronabarb

Hi Gary,

I don't know anything about sassafras. Who considers it to be a carcinogen? Do you have some links we can look up?

Thanks,

Barb,

The key words in a search are "USDA" and "safrole"

Gary

Earl · March 21, 2009

It's also in anise, basil, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cocoa, anise, and black pepper [and who knows what else]. Oh well, I reckon somthing has to take me out. :-)

February 8, 2009	#1
BrianS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 96	Sassafras Tea I'm sure that most of you have heard of it, how many have actually made it? Here in the Ozarks of South Missouri it grows everywhere! From now to end of March is a great time to make tea from the root. Start out by digging a few roots and wash them in the sink to remove as much dirt as possible. Then place the roots in a pan with water like this Turn the heat on and bring to a hard boil for about 15-25 minutes Pour the liquid through a towel or other cloth for straining purposes. Pour in a cup and add sugar. Be liberal on the sugar as it is pretty strong __________________ Hook 'em Horns!

February 9, 2009	#5
cottonpicker Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SE PA..near Valley Forge Posts: 839	yep.... brings back memories of my childhood in OK. Learned to enjoy it with my grandma & Mom's oldest sister. They always brewed it in early springtime for a "blood purifier". Don't know anything about the purification part but it "shore nuff" did taste good!!!!! __________________ "Strong and bitter words indicate a weak cause". Victor Hugo

February 9, 2009	#6
ReaverG Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Alabama Posts: 25	Sure does taste good. It's been a few years since I've made some but I'm sure I'll dig up some this spring now that I've been reminded of how good it tastes. I remember how my mom would tell me I couldn't make it because of how dangerous the stuff was. But what isn't? __________________ Ryan

February 9, 2009	#8
BrianS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 96	Worth, what part of So Mo were you in? __________________ Hook 'em Horns!

February 10, 2009	#11
coronabarb Tomatoville® Recipe Keeper Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Roseburg, Oregon - zone 7 Posts: 2,821	Hi Gary, I don't know anything about sassafras. Who considers it to be a carcinogen? Do you have some links we can look up? Thanks, __________________ Corona~Barb Now an Oregon gal

February 8, 2009	#2
stormymater Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Pleasure Island, NC 8a Posts: 1,162	we used to dig sassafrass rootlets & chew them as we dug our forts as a kid! Great taste!

February 9, 2009	#3
veggie babe Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: east texas Posts: 686	brings back fond memories,my grandfather loved to make the tea and drink it. i would never drink it with him,now i wish i had. neva

February 9, 2009	#4
Wi-sunflower Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,591	I love it. It doesn't grow as far north as Wi, but it's wild where Hubby grew up in north Indiana. He indroduced me to it. It's actually the flavoring for REAL root beer. Something else about the Sassafrass tree, you southerners probably already know -- the young leaves, picked, dried and ground up are the File' powder for "file' gumbo". Carol

February 9, 2009	#7
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	We did when I was young in southern MO but we don't have it here in this part of TX. Too bad as I love the stuff. I do use Gumbo File In gumbo it it made from the leaves. http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start...mWJ824ztV6gP3w Worth

February 10, 2009	#9
Penny Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 948	Ok, i guess i am the only one that has never heard of it before

February 10, 2009	#10
Tormato Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MA Posts: 4,971	Not to be an alarmist, but sassafras is considered to be a carcinogen. It's up to each of us to make our own decision about consuming it. Gary

February 11, 2009	#12
BrianS Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Missouri Posts: 96	If you google this it does say this somewhere. I read it also. Keep in mind that consumption of anything in excess is not gonna be good for you. I doubt just drinking a cup of it once in awhile will do you any harm __________________ Hook 'em Horns!

March 21, 2009	#15
Earl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SW Ohio Posts: 1,278	It's also in anise, basil, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, cocoa, anise, and black pepper [and who knows what else]. Oh well, I reckon somthing has to take me out. :-) __________________ "Seriously think about what you're about to do/say before you do it and the outcome will always be better." Earl