SC - Root Beer

[Elaine Koogler]

Too bad...those *&^*&^$# trees grow like weeds around here (Southern Maryland).
Maybe if there was a real use for them, there wouldn't be as many...you know,
Murphy's Law and all that!

Kiri

Helen wrote:

> Hi,
>     Knowledge from my mom: Root beer = Sassafras Root drink.  They stopped using
> Sassafras root for root beer because it is considered a carcinogenic.  Sassafras
> root still some times used a home remedy.
>
> helen
>
> lilinah at earthlink.net wrote:
>
> > >BTW, could someone please clear up for me what is meant in the
> > >States by "root beer"?  I have rather taken it to mean "sasparilla"
> > >while my Lady contends that it is "ginger beer".  Given that it was
> > >on a suggested list of possibles for taking to a pot luck, I have a
> > >nasty feeling that she is right.
> > >
> > >Gwynydd of Culloden, Ynys Fawr, Lochac, Kingdom of the West
> >
> > Well, root beer, sarsaparilla (note correct spelling), and ginger
> > beer are three very different beverages.
> >
> > Ginger beer, at least as commercially produced is a very gingery
> > flavored carbonated beverage. Best commercial available in California
> > is Reeds, far superior to Cock & Bull brand. But my very favorite is
> > Prince Neville's, which isn't carbonated, has lime juice in it, and
> > will take the varnish off, if you're not used to real ginger :-) Both
> > Reed's and Prince Neville's i find in my local health food store.
> >
> > Of course, ginger beer of any sort can never be confused with
> > American style ginger ale, which is pale and has little flavor.
> >
> > *Good* root beer contains a blend of barks (especially sassafras),
> > spices (such as cinnamon and nutmeg), and other natural flavors (such
> > as vanilla). However, once you've had all-natural root beer, the
> > stuff you usually find in the supermarket taste like nasty chemicals.
> > Sassafras used to be a major flavoring ingredient in root beer, but
> > seems to have been branded as a potential health hazard (i forget
> > what the problem with it is).
> >
> > Sarsaparilla (familiarly called "sasparilla", which is vernacular
> > spelling, but incorrect) is flavored with sarsaparilla, a tropical
> > American plant. Of course, modern-day commercial sarsaparilla may not
> > contain any at all, just the ubiquitous "natural and artificial
> > flavors" that appear on so many labels these days.
> >
> > So, no, root beer and sarsaparilla are not the same, at least not
> > originally. If only the manufacturers would REALLY have to list their
> > ingredients - rather than "protecting" them. Commercial stuff may not
> > really differ much, but the "olde tyme" recipes are significantly
> > different.
> >
> > And in "ye olde dayes" these were all lightly fermented to make them
> > fizzy, but nowadays what you get commercially is carbonated.
> > Homemade, however...
> >
> > Note that some folks confuse root beer and/or sarsaparilla with birch
> > beer, perhaps because modern chemically flavored beverages all start
> > to taste the same.
> >
> > If you ever find actually naturally flavored products and you
> > actually have some clues as to what's in them, you may be able to
> > differentiate them. After doing taste tests with standard brands
> > (such as A&W and Barque's) with more "specialty" commercial brands
> > (such as "Kansas City" and "Henry Weinhard's" and gee, i forget them
> > all), and then some health food or "hand-made" brands (and some of
> > them don't taste too good, either), you will begin to discern some of
> > the subtle and not so subtle differences in flavor. Even if you can't
> > afford the more expensive brands on a regular basis, i really
> > recommend doing some taste tests.
> >
> > Anahita al-shazhiyya
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> >
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