Sassafras tree

Sassafras tree (Sassafras albidum) also known as Sassafrax Tree, and Red Sassafras Tree. The mature Sassafras tree stands form twenty to forty feet in height.

This native tree has many slender branches and a smooth orange brown bark. It is an aromatic deciduous tree that was native to eastern North America, was used by American Indians to make a medicinal tea.

The Delaware, Nanticoke and Seminole, among many other tribes used sassafras as a blood purifier, a poultice for bee stings and an eyewash.

The roots sassafras were used by European colonist to flavor beer and to make a medicinal aromatic beverage that was sold on the streets and was often served with milk and sugar.

Historically, sassafras root was an ingredient in making root beer, but its use was banned in 1960 by the Food and Drug Administration.

Root beer was a blend of root, herb and fruit flavors originating at the American soda fountain but later widely bottled. Sarsaparilla root beer was available in the America of the 1880s. It also contained sassafras, a flavoring derived from the sassafras tree of the eastern seaboard.

Today, sassafras is used by home brewers as a beer flavoring.
Sassafras tree