Ok I have a REALLY odd question (inspired by a line on Little House)

[LindsayDunn228]

I was watching Little House on the Prairie the other day (yeah, big suprise) and I got to wondering something. When they talk about sarspairilla, are they referring to root beer? Examples:

"She shouldn't be fretting over boy. She isn't even old enough to blow the foam off a sarsparilla."

"We've got gum drops in the store." *boy turns her down* "Sarsparilla??"

"I'm gonnna go have a sarsparilla and a nap."

Are they talking about root beer? That's what my husbad thinks.

 

[phorsenuf]

Dear Cecil:

Ever since I was a kid, I have seen references to sarsaparilla. All the kids in western and nineteenth-century stories were always drinking it. It seemed to be very popular, and I've always wondered: how come you can't get it today? --Garth G., Phoenix

Dear Garth:

Sarsaparilla is still around, but it takes a little poking to turn it up. The drink, which tastes a great deal like root beer, is still popular in some parts of the U.S.--the folks in Pittsburgh, I understand, are crazy about the stuff. Although none of the major soft-drink manufacturers markets a national brand, all continue to make the flavor base available to any local bottler who cares to market sarsaparilla on his own. Many cities have a specialty store or two that carries these brands; ask around.

You might think that sarsaparilla would be made from extract of the sarsaparilla plant, a tropical vine distantly related to the lily, but you'd be wrong. It was originally made (artificial flavors have taken over now, of course) from a blend of birch oil and sassafras, the dried root bark of the sassafras tea. Sassafras was widely used as a home remedy in the nineteenth century--taken in sufficient doses, it induces sweating, which some people thought was a good thing. Sarsaparilla apparently made its debut as a patent medicine, an easy-to-take form of sassafras, much as Coca-Cola was first marketed in 1885 as a remedy for hangovers and headaches.

Why isn't sarsaparilla popular anymore? Basically, it just lost out to cola, like almost every other flavor you could name. Root beer, sarsaparilla's closest cousin and once America's most popular soft drink, now accounts for less than 4 percent of the national market. Sarsaparilla's share is too small to be measured.

--CECIL ADAMS

 

[LindsayDunn228]

Thanks a bunch, Cathy!!!

 

[phorsenuf]

Thanks a bunch, Cathy!!!

No problem. I used to love that drink as a kid. I wish I could still find it!

 

[amy4bruce]

There used to be a national brand - Sioux City Sarsparilla. I haven't seen it in years, so I don't think it exists anymore.

As for the line about Pittsburgh loving it, as an eyewitness, I'd have to say that unless Pepsi makes it, it's not that available here. (Unlike other places, say, Disneyworld, Pepsi owns Pittsburgh, despite the fact that Heinz Field only has Coke.)

 

[MagicalMom]

Are you not a big fan of Carosuel of Progress where the dad mentions that they are now calling Sarsparilla by a new name, Rootbeer? Is that why I always seem to be when of the only people in the revolviong room? Even mouthing the words?

 

[poohandwendy]

There used to be a national brand - Sioux City Sarsparilla. I haven't seen it in years, so I don't think it exists anymore.

As for the line about Pittsburgh loving it, as an eyewitness, I'd have to say that unless Pepsi makes it, it's not that available here. (Unlike other places, say, Disneyworld, Pepsi owns Pittsburgh, despite the fact that Heinz Field only has Coke.)

LOL, so true about Pepsi. Drives me crazy.

And as a life-long 'Burger, I have no idea where one would find Sarsparilla here or anywhere, for that matter. I have only read about it...yep, in Little House Books. Never tasted it.

but I love root beer.

 

[Sonya]

Sioux City Sarsparilla still exists. You can find it here in MO

 

[hellokitty86]

Are you not a big fan of Carosuel of Progress where the dad mentions that they are now calling Sarsparilla by a new name, Rootbeer? Is that why I always seem to be when of the only people in the revolviong room? Even mouthing the words?

Thats the first thing I thought about when I read the OP's post!!!! I love COP!! (And I'll be seeing it in 9 days!! )

 

[ckay87]

Just picked up a six pack at the grocery store this week. It's made by the cheapy brand of sodas, A-Treat. Is that a regional brand or all over the place? I don't know.

But I've always had it - it is my favorite of the root-birch-sars trilogy.

 

[eclectics]

I can buy Sarsparilla and also Birch Beer where I am. It all tastes the same to me, just like root beer. I guess there are subtle differences, but I'm not a big soda drinker.

 

[FreshTressa]

They serve it at Knott's Berry Farm....it was dryer and more berryish than root beer.

 

[babytrees]

There used to be a national brand - Sioux City Sarsparilla. I haven't seen it in years, so I don't think it exists anymore.

As for the line about Pittsburgh loving it, as an eyewitness, I'd have to say that unless Pepsi makes it, it's not that available here. (Unlike other places, say, Disneyworld, Pepsi owns Pittsburgh, despite the fact that Heinz Field only has Coke.)

We have Sioux City here!! Love a sarsparilla every once in awhile....I think it's a tangier root beer.

 

[Serena]

I've had it and it does taste similar to rootbear. I don't know where to get it though, but my dad does get it from somewhere.

 

[MagicalMom]

Thats the first thing I thought about when I read the OP's post!!!! I love COP!! (And I'll be seeing it in 9 days!! )

Good! I was afraid that I was the only one! I always have to drag my family on, ecept DH he considers it his nap time!