Spice Collection
The Secret Source of Yummy Root Beer
A wild tree
Go outside and find that sassafras trees grow wild in East Asia and the United States. The genus contains three species, and folks harvest its root to flavor and thicken foods.
The three main species of sassafras contain safrole, its active compound. One cup of tea contains high levels of safrole, and be wary of its concentration due to toxicity. Also, this genus harbors high levels of MDA, which induce feelings of euphoria and hallucinations.
The US outlawed its cultivation and distribution in the 1980s due to its psychoactive properties. However, it remains prevalent in native and eastern medicine.
Nomenclature: Sassafras v.
Tastes: Root beer
Uses: Flavoring, folk medicine, fragrance, insecticide, tea, thickener, etc.
Origin: E. Asia, E. United States
Notes: Illegal, psychoactive
