Source for Sassafrass?

[Richard Kilgore]

I am looking for a source for Sassafrass roots/bark to make Sassafrass tea. I vaguely recall reading some concern many years ago about it being a carcinogen. Anyone know more or have a source?

[guajolote]

yes, it is a carcinogen (the chemical is called safrole)

link

File powder, commonly used to thicken gumbo, is sassafrass leaves.

[Richard Kilgore]

Okay...so just how carcinogenic is it? Rats smoked a carton a day and developed liver of the pancreas? Sassafrass teasippin' rats were 3,000% more like to develop CA than their green tea sippin' cosuins? Does the FDA ban it?

[fifi]

I don't think I have ever seen sassafras commercially available. We used to go get it in the woods when I was a kid. I must have drunk buckets of the stuff and I am still here. We always found it in the East Texas mixed hardwood and pine forest. It grows as a small understory tree. You might ask some naturalist types in your area if it grows there. Hunting for it makes for a fun excursion.

I did an extensive search recently on the question of the safrole. We have a rampant Oja Santa (root beer plant) growing in my sister's yard. Its flavor also comes primarily from safrole. It is used in some fabulous Mexican recipes. We started using it shredded under chicken thighs baked in the oven. FABULOUS. Since we were eating the leaves in pretty big quantities like greens, I thought I had better look it up. I could find nothing on quantities that might be considered carcinogenic. That was frustrating. I think the FDA made them take sassafras out of root beer but I don't know if it is generally a no-no.

If anyone has information that can put use of sassafras (or root beer plant) in proper perspective I would appreciate it. After all... too much of anything will kill you.

[Richard Kilgore]

Fifi - I also drank buckets of it for years when I was a kid and I appear to be no worse for it... My grandmother used to dig it up in Ohio and send bags of it. Thanks for reminding me that I could just go dig it up myself. I am still curious, though, about the carcinogenic evidence. It makes a wonderful tea, but I am not foolhardy.

Edited March 18, 2003 by Richard Kilgore (log)

[IrishCream]

File powder is readily available in Houston. Also in Louisiana. Hard to believe Zatarain's would be still selling it if they thought it was dangerous...File/sassafras. I have seen it for sale in bulk for far less. A little searching on Cajun food websites will probably locate a source.

Edit: here is a source for root/bark root

Edited March 18, 2003 by IrishCream (log)

[wingding]

The fda has made it unavailable for sale,as far as I can tell.It grows everywhere,however.I spent an afternoon with Wildman Steve Brill in Central Park[NYC],and he pointed out some plants-We pulled one up,and sure enough the root had that wonderful smell.

[IrishCream]

So why is it for sale on those websites????

[wingding]

I'm really not sure of the technicalities-I've been discouraged from using it in restaurants in the past,for health reasons[i will stay away from legal terms and discussions from now on-I'm not a specialist in this!]

[Ron Johnson]

I think that every substance in the world causes cancer when given to lab rats in amounts roughyl 3000% of what any human would ever ingest at any given time.

edit: I am waiting for the study that says eating lab rats will cause cancer.

Edited March 18, 2003 by Ron Johnson (log)

[g.johnson]

A rather old FDA article.

Aromatic sassafras tea, once popular as a stimulant and blood thinner and as a reputed cure for rheumatism and syphilis, causes cancer in rats when taken in large amounts. Oil of sassafras and safrole, major chemical components of the aromatic oil in sassafras root bark, were taken out of root beer more than 30 years ago. And sassafras bark was banned from use in all food. Safrole-free extract, however, is allowed in food.

[fifi]

Interesting links. But I didn't find sassafras on the "root" link.

File doesn't have much of the safrole flavor. I just sniffed my bottle of Zatarain's and I don't smell much. Maybe the leaves are not banned for that reason. I agree that they are a big company and wouldn't be selling it if they thought it was a problem. But then, my bottle is not all that fresh. It is used as a thickener primarily. In fact, if you use too much or (God forbid) try to cook it in you will have slimy gumbo.

Aaaah... Lab rats roasted in root beer plant leaves. Now there is an idea!

[Richard Kilgore]

Thanks to all. Actually the root link site does list sassafras. Just scroll down on their home page and go through the alphabetical list. There it is. But I am going to do a little research before I start drinking this stuff.

[Shiva]

Sassafras range in North America:

Sassafras tree (winter):

Note the right angled (elbow like) branching. This image doesn't quite play it up enough, but Sassafras trees look like they are surrendering with their upper arms paralell to the ground and their forearms perpendicular to the ground. |_||_|

You'll find Sassafras along the edges of fields and clearings. Find small trees and dig roots under 1" in diameter.

Now where's my spade?..

[bruno]

I have just discovered your forum here and I understand that you would like some sassafrass root. I happen to have pushed out several sassafrass trees with rather large stumps. Bring your truck and I well loaded them up for you with a loader!! I live in Northern Indiana. It makes very good tea even the lab rats would enjoy it!!! If you want a small quanity I well ship it to you if you pay shipping charges. :

[Ktepi]

I have a pound of sassafras root (thanks, eBay). I've googled and found some recipes, but does anyone have any suggestions for usage? I've made a pitcher of tea, and it has a bitter aspirin-like undertone which -- while not unpleasant once the tea is sweetened -- wasn't present in the sassafras tea I've had from concentrate.