How do you make Sassafrass tea?

[JSUnlimited]

The remnants of "Ike" blew through here in Ohio and took down a couple of trees around my property. One of which was a large Sassafrass. Dad always talked about "Sassafrass tea" but I had never had any of it. So after cutting up the tree, I took the backhoe and dug up the remainder of the stump and roots. I have several roots left ranging in size to use.

So how do you make it?

 

[stub]

Take some small roots and boil them. If drink a lot of it, it'll make your neck burn and keep you awake but it won't kill you.

 

[forgeblast]

I hadn't heard about sassafras tea, so I did a little research: apparently, sassafras tea is created from the young roots of the sassafras tree (Sassafras Albidum), where the concentration of safrole (an oily liquid) is highest in the plant.
One must be careful, and informed, when using Sassafras as an herbal agent. There is conflicting, and incomplete, evidence that safrol has carcinogenic properties.
Wikipedia says that consumables containing more than a specific small amounts of safrole were banned by the U.S. and Canada in 1960, based on animal studies and human case reports.

 

[Western]

Sassafrass was used by the Indians as a blood thinner and purifyer, I have drank it since I was a kid.. Its the flavering in good quality Root beer.

What we do, I take a large 4 qt pot, rinse the roots in cool water. (use roots that are below the dirt line) place 7-8 pieces in the pot that are big but stay under water, I usually boil it for 30-45 minutes or until good dark water. I always use a cloth over a pitcher to strain, then add suger to taste.

 

[Flatheadyoungin]

i've always heard of this but never tried it

is it actually good? i know this is open to debate but i'm curious

 

[LBrown59]

The remnants of "Ike" blew through here in Ohio and took down a couple of trees around my property here in 1*SE Ohio.
One of which was a large Sassafrass. Dad always talked about "Sassafrass tea" but I had never had any of it.
2*So after cutting up the tree,
3* I took the backhoe and dug up the remainder of the stump and roots.

1*What part of SE Ohio?
I'm in the Washington County part.

2*A couple of years ago I grubbed about \.6 acres here.
There were several 2 to 4 inch Sassafrass trees.
3*Don't you just love the smell that stirs up?
I sure do?
L B S

 

[LBrown59]

1*i've always heard of this but never tried it.
2*is it actually good?

1*Mom used to make it when I was a kid.
2*I like it.

 

[polo1665]

Used to chew on the leaves when I was a kid in western Michigan. Oily, but had a nice taste to them. Never tried to make tea with the roots though. The wood is also good to smoke meat with from what I've heard. We have some trees on the property, I'll have to try it for smoking.

Mark

 

[MossRoad]

Young leaves are good to chew on... just spit them out when done chewing.

As for the tea.... find young saplings and yank them up. Use the small, tender roots and boil in water for a while. Filter it, sugar it, drink it, tell yourself that you have now drank sassafrass tea, pour it out and have a Coke. It is yucky stuff!

 

[MrWoodChips]

and have a Coke. It is yucky stuff!

Exactly so. I never could stand the taste of coke.

John