Sassafras

[GoofyforDisney3]

Just had to say, Kevin, you really were not missing anything by not having Sassafras at The Wave. My Grandma used to make tea with it when I was little and it is nasty! Not sure if they still sell it or not, but you used to be able to buy bottles of Sassafras concentrate at the grocery stores in the tea bag isle. I know I've read online that the FDA banned the use of it in some applications like as flavoring in Root Beer (or was it originally a Sasparillo?)

 

[doconeill]

Sassafras was a flavor ingredient in root beer (as was sarsaparilla), and was banned for around 30 years after it was determined a component of the oil that could be produced caused liver damage. In the mid-90s it was allowed again in a more refined form.

 

[kaligal]

Sassafras is also the name of an alligator at Gatorland.

I know this because I did the "feed the gator" thing and one started moving up. I instinctively jumped back and the very nice guy put his stick out to stop the thing and nicely said, "Don't worry. Sassafras won't eat you."

Once I said, "Well, it could be worse" and the friend I was with said, "Yeah, you could be eaten by Sassafras."

The word itself has become a thing of terror with which we compare all bad things.

Even when I saw the thread title, I had an moment. Sassafras!

 

[Alice2020]

Sassafras is a tree and it grew wild near my childhood home. I used to chew the leaves for the flavor. It is also used in gumbo file powder. If you are interested in getting the "essence" of sassafras, they sell sassafras hard candy. All of the other posters are correct, the flavor evokes root beer, but it is different.