Sassafras tea

[gramps]

Sipping it while “reading the mail”. It is the first I have had in many years. Plenty of trees, no access while traveling. Out walking with my Jack Russel btch, and grey(green)tabby cat and ended up in a patch of Sassafras trees, and pulled up a small one by the roots. It has made a dandy beverage for a cloudy day. 8)
gramps

 

[SBH4628]

Thank you for the memories gramps.
Grandpa would take us kids out and dig up the root for a treat.
I can still smell it.
Daniel

 

[Armybrat]

We did that in the 1950s in St. Louis. My dad loved the tea he made from the roots, but I stuck with my Grapette soda pop.

 

[Bob Wright]

Sassafras tea and sulfur water were curatives in my mother's time, around Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee.

Bob Wright

 

[gramps]

We did that in the 1950s in St. Louis. My dad loved the tea he made from the roots, but I stuck with my Grapette soda pop.

Nugrape, was my favorite. I didn’t get the S tea until I was camping out with my cousins.
gramps

 

[gramps]

Sassafras tea and sulfur water were curatives in my mother's time, around Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee.

Bob Wright

Yep. Sulphur water gets rid of ticks and chiggers during normal bathing, and if you can drink enough of it they refuse to bite too. S tea was a Spring time tonic to cleanse the blood. I wonder what else got mixed into it? :lol:
gramps

 

[BDM1]

Isn't rootbeer flavored like sassafas, hence the name "root"beer?

 

[32shooter]

I can recall my Father digging the roots and making tea. I may have to dig some up and give it a try again. I think there are still some trees on my Mother's property.

 

[57springer]

My grandmother made tea ,I still remember the pleasant smell .

 

[SAJohn]

BDM1, Yes Sassafras was a key ingredient in Root Beer. In fact, in earlier days, Root Beer was just called Sassafras. In 1960, the FDA banned it in all foods because there was some evidence that it is a possible carcinogen. Root Beer has not tasted near as good as it did before the ban.

John

 

[6GUNSONLY]

The do you have to dry the roots before using them? It's plentiful around here but I wasn't sure how to use it. I know the little fruit stand near my home when I was growing up sold little bundles of it, but it seemed to have been dried.

 

[Achigan]

Nope. No need to dry. I peel the bark from the root to make my tea. (Use the bark)

 

[Selena]

My grandmother loved sassafras. In the spring Dad would always pull up a tree and collect the roots for her.

My uncle used to extract the oil through a complex distilling process (much like mint) that he would give as "air fresheners" that gave a delicious scent throughout the room it was used. Fond memories now gone forever. :(

 

[Mega Twin]

As a kid,we had a lot of sassafras trees on the farm,but after moving away,I have seen none in the area we now live.
When we were plowing new ground on the farm,and you plowed up roots,it was the best smell ever!

 

[6GUNSONLY]

Built and gave to my dad years ago, an "Arkansas Gunner's box (ammos crate sized box with a removable top tray) made of sassafras wood. It's light colored with a nice grain pattern. Dad has passed but my mom has it full of stuff. I'll make a picture of it next time I'm over there and post it.

 

[contender]

It grows all around here on my property. I do occasionally dig me a little,, make some tea,, and smile. Soothing,, pleasant to enjoy,, and medicinal according to the Native Americans.