NP Re: Real American Root Beer

[Bernier, Jeannie]

Sassafras oil was one of the main flavoring ingredients.  It contains a
carcinogen that was banned by the US in 1960.  Since then, sassafras oil has
been processed to remove the offending ingredient so that it is safe.  Most
commercial root beers do not use sassafras at all, but a blend of spices and
herbs (or chemically faked spice and herb flavors) - here is the ingredient
listing for Virgil's, which is an all-natural root beer (this is not to be
construed as an endorsement for Virgil's - I've never even tried the stuff!)
(Actually, this is technically a "birch" beer)

Anise  
Licorice 
Vanilla (Bourbon) 
Cinnamon 
Clove 
Wintergreen 
Sweetbirch 
Mollases
Nutmeg 
Pimento Berry Oil
Balsam Oil
Cassia Oil  

I believe the lauded Hires brand is reputed to be the original root beer -
they invented it.

What do you continental types think of Dr. Pepper then?  Mmm, Prune Juice!

Other interesting tidbits - Coca Cola was originally made with Cocaine (ah,
everyone knows that) and 7-up (the "uncola") was made with Lithium.  

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Baum [mailto:michael.baum at nist.gov]
Sent: Monday, July 19, 1999 2:23 PM
To: Pynchon List
Subject: Re: NP Re: Real American Root Beer


On Sun, 18 Jul 1999 12:03:44 -0700, s~Z wrote:

>Jill Adams wrote:
>> Anyone ever had sassafrass tea?
>
>My grandfather, an old German shaman, used to reappear at the farmhouse
>after sunset with a can of sassafras roots. My Wiccan grandmother would
>fire up the gas stove and put on a large pot of water, then simmer the
>concoction for hours filling the house with the smell of earthy root
>beer. He kept a tin of black salve under the kitchen sink and collected
>arrowheads in a bucket in the shed. He died the night my eldest was
>born.

It _is_ good, but unfortunately for the lore of natural goodliness, at least
one of the components is a carcinogen, or so I've read.

maab