Re: What is Sarsparella?

Brick said:

Quoted message said:

We enjoy wine with our meals. But we have a few teetotal frieds, plus
those who are the car drivers of course, for whom I try to seek
non-alchoholic drinks that are not sweet. In other words, something to
make a change from just mineral water.

Recentaly I've heard that here in the UK Sarsparella is obtainable if
one seeks it out (although I've yet to see it where we normally shop).
It's a name I know from the past but that's about the extent of it.

Can anyone out there tell me a bit more about it?

Thanks.

Derek

The Epicurious Drink Dictionary lists a drink called a 'Black Cow',
which contains, 'sarsaparilla'. I got tired of looking for a description
of the beverage itself. It was mentioned often in movies about the
American 'Old West'.

Did you find this site? Apparently the flavor is similar to rootbeer.
http://www.olbobmillers.com/scoop.htm

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Recentaly I've heard that here in the UK Sarsparella is obtainable if
one seeks it out (although I've yet to see it where we normally shop).
It's a name I know from the past but that's about the extent of it.

Similar to root beer in flavor. It is made from the root of a plant
(similax?), but I don't recall which one. It has fallen out of fashion for
many years, but seems to be coming back. I can buy it at a local soda
maker.

Edwin Pawlowski said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Recentaly I've heard that here in the UK Sarsparella is obtainable if
one seeks it out (although I've yet to see it where we normally shop).
It's a name I know from the past but that's about the extent of it.

Similar to root beer in flavor. It is made from the root of a plant
(similax?), but I don't recall which one. It has fallen out of fashion for
many years, but seems to be coming back. I can buy it at a local soda
maker.

It's got quite a bite to it. It's fun for a novelty, but it's not
something I could drink by the case.

Carol

--
Coming at you live, from beautiful Lake Woebegon

"Damsel" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

It's got quite a bite to it. It's fun for a novelty, but it's not
something I could drink by the case.

Carol

Could be just the variation I had, but it was smooth, no bite. Maybe they
sissified it with lots of sugar over the years?

Root beer vs Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla is derived from the root of the Sassafras tree. It is a first
cousin to root beer. I many ways it was the original 'root beer'.
Sarsaparilla is based on just one root, it is not a beer of roots. Root
beers are a mixture of many different types of roots, they are a "beer of
roots". The type, quantity and blend used is quite often a very strongly
guarded proprietary secret. Sarsaparilla will have a stronger root beer
taste or aftertaste. Root beer may be blended to the public taste and
acceptance. Sarsaparilla was at one time brewed from the bark of the
Sassafras tree. This was declared a carcinogen, so now the bark of the root
is used.

Root beer can be derived from any number of roots. Numerous combinations of
roots and ingredients, such as: Dandelion, Sassafras, Anise, Birch,
Cinnamon, Clove, Licorice, Vanilla, Wintergreen, and many other barks and
herbs may be blended in different quantities to give root beers their
different tastes.

"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Recentaly I've heard that here in the UK Sarsparella is obtainable if
one seeks it out (although I've yet to see it where we normally shop).
It's a name I know from the past but that's about the extent of it.

Similar to root beer in flavor. It is made from the root of a plant
(similax?), but I don't recall which one. It has fallen out of fashion
for many years, but seems to be coming back. I can buy it at a local soda
maker.

"mlsee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Sarsaparilla is derived from the root of the Sassafras tree.

Not according to these guys. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MV130

Or these http://www.antiquebottles.com/sarsaparilla/

But it is according to these guys.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_354.html

Looks as though the name survived but the flavor changed from the real thing
(medicinal herb) to something different.

This subject made me go out and buy some root beer soda but I forgot the
vanilla ice cream to make a root beer float. I will get that next trip to
the store.

"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"mlsee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Sarsaparilla is derived from the root of the Sassafras tree.

Not according to these guys. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MV130

Or these http://www.antiquebottles.com/sarsaparilla/

But it is according to these guys.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_354.html

Looks as though the name survived but the flavor changed from the real
thing (medicinal herb) to something different.

Quoted message said:

"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"mlsee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message

Quoted message said:

Sarsaparilla is derived from the root of the Sassafras tree.

Not according to these guys. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MV130

Or these http://www.antiquebottles.com/sarsaparilla/

But it is according to these guys.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_354.html

Looks as though the name survived but the flavor changed from the real
thing (medicinal herb) to something different.

I remember as a kid going and collecting sassafras roots and making
"sasparilla tea."

--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths page at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm

"Peter Aitken" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

"Edwin Pawlowski" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"mlsee" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
>
> Sarsaparilla is derived from the root of the Sassafras tree.

Not according to these guys. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/MV130

Or these http://www.antiquebottles.com/sarsaparilla/

But it is according to these guys.
http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_354.html

Looks as though the name survived but the flavor changed from the real
thing (medicinal herb) to something different.

I remember as a kid going and collecting sassafras roots and making
"sasparilla tea."

--
Peter Aitken
Visit my recipe and kitchen myths page at www.pgacon.com/cooking.htm
=======

Yummm... I remember our 5th grade teacher bringing it into class one day and
serving it. She definitely is/was one of my most favorite teachers.

I've actually tried to find her...but haven't had any success yet. She
is/was such a wonderful person. I'd love to catch up with her.

Cyndi

Peter Aitken said:

I remember as a kid going and collecting sassafras roots and making
"sasparilla tea."

I remember as a kid going to the original Knott's Berry Farm. They had
a western saloon (complete with gunfights) where they served
sarsparilla. I liked it better than root beer but we never found
(adults probably never looked) it away from Knott's. They also had a
restaurant where the fried chicken dinner and boysenberry pie were
justly famous. -aem

Peter Aitken said:

I remember as a kid going and collecting sassafras roots and making
"sasparilla tea."

We made sassafras tea.

sf said:

Peter Aitken said:

I remember as a kid going and collecting sassafras roots and making
"sasparilla tea."

We made sassafras tea.

I love sassafras tea and I still make it. It's real
comfort food to me. My mother used to make it for us
when we were sick and it always made me feel better.

Kate