OH SASSAFRAS

Sassafras (Family Lauraceae) is a common tree in the Ozarks and super easy to identify from its leaves.  It has three different leaf patterns all on the same tree.  There are football-shaped leaves, leaves that look like mittens, and leaves that look like a ghost.  In the Ozarks, the finest show of friendship was to be given a paddle made from sassafras wood.  You aren’t supposed to be able to buy them, only receive one as a blessed gift. 

Historically, sassafras was used to treat a variety of ailments and was used as a flavoring.  Sassafras tea was made from the bark.  The flavor of root beer was from the roots (obviously!).  And filé used to thicken gumbo was from the stem.  Sassafras contains safrole.  In 1960, the FDA banned the use of safrole, concerned that it caused liver damage and cancer in rats.  The FDA still allows the safrole-free extract.  I’m disappointed and perplexed by this.  I am disappointed because I like the idea of a natural elixir and I like root beer.  I’m perplexed because this might be a case of micro detection spoiling some good root beer.  Scientists are awesome at measuring things.  Micro amounts of carcinogens can be detected in minute amounts in almost everything.  So, is this a case of micro detection?  Justin at Nature’s Poisons had a lovely rant on this topic (https://naturespoisons.com/2014/09/17/a-scientist-stole-my-root-beer-safrole-sassafras/).  His determination from the literature is that you would have to imbibe an obscene amount of sassafras root tea to be equal to the amounts given to rats.

So, what is a girl to do?  Well that is up to you.  But if I’m offered some iced sassafras tea on the veranda on a hot afternoon, I’m taking it.  I might limit myself to something less than an obscene amount, but…I’m taking it.   

A recipe for homemade sassafras root beer by Elise Bauer http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/homemade_sassafras_root_beer/