#sassafras

I'm bored talk to me

okay!!!!! let me tell you about the history of root beer

(this is knowledge that has been in my head that I’ve retold so it’s only partially accurate)

root beer used to taste different than it does now BECAUSE:

-> colonizers came to North America and noticed that tribes in *insert area* used the sassafras tree (specifically the root) for medicinal purposes

—> some parts of the tree are poisonous, particularly when consumed in high volume. don’t go out to a sassafras tree and much on some leaves you could Super Die esp. if you’re small

-> this alongside the concept of alcohol being healing caused them to market it as root beer

-> it tasted so good it was remarketed as a confectionery style drink

-> in 19__ the FDA did some tests using saffrola oil (extract from the roots used to make the beer) in big concentrated doses on rats

-> rats died so the FDA banned the commercial usage of sassafras parts or saffrola oil, making root beer a no-no

—> mind you humans Probably Would Have Been Fine as you’d need to drink like 50 cups a day to get sick

-> they remade it but it’s not the same

-> you can still buy the extract and make it yourself!!!

—> source: justinthetrees’ video about sassafras ice cream (all of his tree ice cream videos are like then,ost amazing calming things)

Milkweed shoots!!! Sassafras blooms!!! We are foraging our own filé powder this year!!