OT-CHAT:Sassafras officinalis, was rootbeer.


Thank you Jeff and Carolyn, Dennis, John and Linda for kind answers. I
surfed around a little and now I know a lot more about Sassafras
officinalis.

It does not grow in Sweden.

I collected the following on
http://www-ang.kfunigraz.ac.at/~katzer/engl/generic_frame.html?Sass_alb.html

"In most countries outside the United States, sassafras is looked upon
with suspicion because of its high content of safrol, an hepatotoxic and
probably cancerogenic agent. In Europe, sassafras leaves are not
available;"

"Safrol, although toxic, has a pleasant flavour; it occurs as a trace
component in many essential oils (e.g., star anis, nutmeg and  even
black pepper). It is the main aroma component of an exotic Mesoamerican
spice, Méxican pepper-leaves."

Very interesting. I really must stop using so much pepper in the food
(my husband will be pleased).

Maybe I will try some root beer next time I visit my cousins in the USA,
a little sip couldn´t possibly hurt.

Maj in no longer snowcovered Sweden ( It is raining, as usual, this
climate is depressing and GRANDMA AMANDA is standing in an mixture of
ice and water).
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