Sassafras is a richly nuanced medicinal tree that also has a distinctive place in the culinary world. Sassafras root bark is responsible for the flavor of root beer, but it is no longer used due to a Food and Drug Administration ban. The reasons for this fortunately do not transfer to sassafras leaves which have a long history of being essential to classical Southern gumbo. I think sassafras falls into the category of underutilized herbs. Despite questions about safety and bad publicity, sassafras is distinctive and very much worth getting to know.

Links to Gumbo Mentions:
Toni Tipton Martin
Jubilee Recipes from Two Centuries of African American Cooking: A Cookbook by Toni Tipton Martin
Lena Richard
New Orlean”s Cookbook by Lena Richard

My favorite sources for gumbo file:
Red Stick Spice Co.
Mountain Rose Herbs: dried sassafras leaves

Join me in this episode for more on sassafras…the unique features of its leaves, its medicinal qualities and some safety concerns. Sending you warm winter wishes  and thank you for joining me!

CONNECT WITH DINA

Together we can transform our kitchens into a unique apothecary.

—Deepest gratitude to Andrea Klunder, my podcast boss.  Find her at thecreativeimposter.com. 

Original music by Dylan Rice

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ABOUT DINA

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Dina Ranade is a Registered Herbalist with the American Herbalist Guild and a Registered Dietitian/Nutritionist. She is also a mom of three – two daughters and one son all now in college. Dina loves cooking for her family despite the challenges this creates. She passionately loves exploring culinary herbalism and has been working on stocking her home kitchen apothecary or medicine cabinet.