Most of the popular spices come from tropical regions, usually the Far East but sometimes from Africa or from Central and Latin America. Sassafras is different in that it comes from North America. The tree that produces it comes belongs to the Lauraceae family that includes cinnamon and the bay trees that give us bay leaves.
The sassafras tree is found mainly in the Eastern United States. Sassafras was one of the Jamestown Colony's first exports in the 17th century. The colonists learned about the tree's value from the Native Americans who used it to ward off illnesses. The Europeans would come to see it as a wonder drug that was capable of curing numerous diseases. Sassafras was so popular at this time that it would be the second most important export from America. Only tobacco was more important
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In the 1960s, the Food and Drug Administration would ban the use of safrole. The result is that the makers of both sassafras teas and root beer had to remove safrole from their products. Both beverages are now made with artificial sassafras flavorings or sassafras extract that contains no safrole.
Ground sassafras leaves are called file powder, which is used as a thickener.
Flavor Profile of Sassafras
Sassafras is highly aromatic with an earthy flavor that has notes of anise and lemon. There are also notes of eucalyptus and root beer.
Health Benefits of Sassafras
Sassafras provides numerous health benefits, many of which are from its safrole content. The compounds in sassafras that provide its health benefits include:
Safrole
On its own, Safrole is said to be effective for treating several health conditions including scurvy and rheumatism.
Safrole is controversial because it is a carcinogen and is capable of inducing mutation. Other reasons to exercise moderation include the fact that overuse can result in damage to the kidneys and liver.