Sassafras Tea
A fragrant reddish tea brewed from sassafras root bark, traditionally gathered in the woods of eastern Oklahoma each spring.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 20 min
- Total
- 25 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 20 kcal
Equipment
- •Small saucepan
Nutrition
Per serving, approximate
- Calories
- 20 kcal
- fat
- 0
- carbs
- 5
- protein
- 0
- calories
- 20
Instructions
- 1
Rinse the sassafras root bark under cool water.
- 2
Bring water to a boil in a small saucepan on the stovetop.
- 3
Add the root bark. Turn the burner down to a gentle simmer.
- 4
Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Stop when the water turns a deep reddish-brown.
- 5
Pour the tea through a strainer to remove the root bark pieces.
- 6
Stir in honey or sugar to sweeten it, if you like.
- 7
Serve the tea hot, or chill it and serve over ice.
Chef's tips
Use bark from a trusted source, as fresh sassafras should be used with care and consumed in moderation. Steep longer for a stronger color and flavor.
Storage
Refrigerate brewed tea up to 3 days.
Reheating
Reheat gently on the stovetop or serve cold.
Common mistakes to avoid
- •Steeping too long, which can make the tea bitter
- •Using too little bark, resulting in a weak flavor
Serving suggestions
Cooked Sassafras Tea?
Sign in to save this recipe to a collection. Bookmarking works without an account — it stays on this device.
Sign in for collectionsSimilar recipes
Dishes with the same spirit, spice level and course.
More from Oklahoma
Cooking that shares the same kitchen and pantry.
Recipes using similar ingredients
Use what you already bought for this recipe.
