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
[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/36252.jpg[/IMG]
Turn the heat on and bring to a hard boil for about 15-25 minutes
[IMG]http://i39.tinypic.com/s65dec.jpg[/IMG]
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
[IMG]http://i42.tinypic.com/jj017q.jpg[/IMG]

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

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.:lol:

neva

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

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!!!!!

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?

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.
[url]http://www.google.com/url?sa=U&start=1&q=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fil%25C3%25A9&ei=6qiQSbfdO5aitgfR1aSRCw&usg=AFQjCNEh0z9rD18gw5S9mWJ824ztV6gP3w[/url]

Worth

Worth, what part of So Mo were you in?

:D Ok, i guess i am the only one that has never heard of it before ;)

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

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,

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

[quote=BrianS;119978]Worth, what part of So Mo were you in?[/quote]

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.:yes:

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

Worth

[quote=coronabarb;120068]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,[/quote]

Barb,

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

Gary

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