09/14/2026
Sassafras (Sassafras albidum) is a tree that was originally used as one of the primary flavorings for root beer. Sassafras roots make a great tasting tea and taste very similar to root beer on their own.
The young leaves of sassafras tastes a bit like fruit loops. The leaves are ground into a Cajun seasoning called file which is added to gumbo.
Sassafras root was a main ingredient in the mass production of root beer until it was banned in 1960. It was banned because high concentrations of safrole were shown to be toxic to lab rats. However, there is a lot of controversy around this decision.
I personally consume sassafras root tea from time to time and had no ill effects. Sassafras leaves contain little to no safrole and are considered perfectly safe to consume.
