Homemade Sassafras Root Beer

5.00 (3)
⏱ 40 mins 🍽 ['10', '2 1/2 quarts'] 🌶 american 🏷 Drink

This recipe guides you through creating a traditional root beer from scratch, using foraged sassafras roots as the base. You will simmer the roots with a blend of spices including cloves, anise, allspice, and cinnamon, then sweeten the infusion with molasses and sugar. The resulting syrup is mixed with soda water to create a refreshing, homemade beverage. The entire process takes about 40 minutes and makes approximately 2 1/2 quarts, serving around 10 people.

Homemade Sassafras Root Beer

Ingredients

  • Several roots (including some green stems) from sassafras saplings, about 30-40 inches worth of 1/4-inch thick roots (enough to fill one cup when you chop them into 1/2-inch pieces)
  • 4 cups water
  • 2 cloves
  • 1/2 teaspoon anise seeds (can sub fennel)
  • 4 allspice berries
  • 1-inch of stick cinnamon
  • 1/4 cup molasses
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 2 quarts soda water

Method

  1. Prepare the roots by scrubbing them thoroughly to remove any dirt. Use pruning shears if needed to cut the roots into 1/2-inch pieces. You can include a few green stems, but the majority should be roots. Continue cutting until you have filled one cup.
  2. Place the chopped roots into a small pot and pour in 4 cups of water. Add the cloves, anise seeds, allspice berries, and the 1-inch cinnamon stick. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower the heat and let it simmer for 25 minutes.
  3. Stir in the 1/4 cup of molasses and continue to simmer the mixture for another 5 minutes. Once done, take the pot off the heat.
  4. Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth or a paper towel. Clean the pot and return the strained liquid to it. Add 1 cup of sugar and heat gently until it just simmers and the sugar dissolves completely. Remove from the heat and allow it to cool.
  5. To serve, fill a glass with ice. Combine the syrup and soda water in a 1:2 ratio, using 1/3 cup of syrup to 2/3 cups of soda water. Adjust the proportions to taste for a stronger or more diluted drink.

Nutrition (per serving)

Sodium33 mg

Recipe details

CategoryDrink
Cuisineamerican
AuthorElise Bauer