MMMMM----- Recipe via Meal-Master (tm) v8.06
 
      Title: Homemade Sassafras Root Beer
 Categories: Beverages, Herbs
      Yield: 5 Pints
 
           Several roots; (including
           - some green stems) from
           - sassafras saplings, about
           - 30-40 inches worth of 1/4"
           - thick roots-enough to fill
           - one cup when you chop them
           - in 1/2" pieces)
      4 c  Water
      2    Cloves
    1/2 ts Anise seeds; can sub fennel
      4    Allspice berries
      1    (1") stick cinnamon
    1/4 c  Molasses
      1 c  Sugar
      2 qt Soda water
 
  Scrub the roots clean of any dirt. Cut the roots into
  1/2" long pieces. (The roots can be tough, if you have
  a pair of pruning shears, they work great to cut the
  roots.) If you have a few green stems, you can include
  them too, but you should have mostly roots. Cut up as much
  as you need to fill one cup. Put the roots into a small
  pot and cover with 4 cups of water. Add the cloves, anise
  seeds, allspice berries, and cinnamon stick. Bring to a
  boil, reduce to a simmer, and simmer for 25 minutes. Add
  the molasses and simmer for 5 minutes more. Remove from
  heat.
  
  Strain through cheesecloth or a fine mesh sieve lined with
  a paper towel. Rinse out the pot. Return the liquid to the
  pot. Add the sugar, heat until just a simmer and the sugar
  has dissolved. Remove from the heat and let cool.
  
  To assemble the root beer, fill a glass with ice cubes,
  add the syrup and soda water in a 1:2 ratio, so 1/3 cup of
  syrup to 2/3 cups of soda water. Add more soda water if
  you want it more diluted, add more syrup if you want it
  stronger.
  
  From: http://www.simplyrecipes.com
  
  Uncle Dirty Dave's Archives
 
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