Is it illegal to buy sassafras?

People used to drink sassafras tea. However, sassafras tea contains a high concentration of safrole, which was about 4.5 times the permissible dose. Thus, in 1976, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sales of sassafras tea. Moreover, the FDA prohibited the use of sassafras as food additives.

Where can you get sassafras?

Sassafras trees grow throughout most of the eastern United States and west of the Mississippi River into Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, and eastern Texas and Oklahoma. They often spring up in abandoned fields as a pioneer species.

What does Sassafras taste like?

Sassafras is a strong-scented spice that has an earthy taste with citrus and anise notes. It’s great with various other herbs, and is a perfect complement to many curries and dishes.

What is Sassafras and is it safe?

Sassafras is a plant. The root bark is used to make medicine. Despite serious safety concerns, people use sassafras for many conditions, but there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses. In beverages and candy, sassafras was used in the past to flavor root beer. It was also used as a tea.

What is Sassafras used for?

Sassafras has also been used to thicken foods, brew tea, and produce filé powder — a seasoning used in Creole cuisine. Sassafras tea is made by boiling the root bark of the tree in water for 15–20 minutes, allowing the flavors to infuse the liquid.

What does Sassafras look like?

Sassafras is a short to medium-sized tree, often forming colonies from root sprouts, with a columnar canopy, a flattened crown, and contorted branches that turn upward at their ends. Leaves are alternate, simple, aromatic when crushed, 4–6 inches long, 2–4 inches wide, broadest at the middle; having 3 shapes (entire; with a single lobe on one side like a mitten; or trident-shaped), tip