[HPFGU-OTChatter] Re: 8-22 Happy Birthday Jamieson!

[Meredith Wilson]

I know that I've already told you more than you would ever want to know
about root beer, but...

***Ps. can some kind soul enlighten me as to what root beer is? (which 
**root is it made from? anyway related to ginger beer? does it taste 
**nice?)

I also found a recipe which may give you a better idea (and I was happy
because I found the Sassafrass I was sure was in there somewhere... I am a
bit concerned that it says Sassafrass oil is a carcinogen and I spent many
years of my youth chewing on Sassafrass.  Hmm.)

Mer

Ingredients:

   * 1 cake, compressed yeast
   * 5 pounds, sugar
   * 2 ounces, sassafrass root
   * 1 ounce, hops or ginger root
   * 2 ounces, juniper berries
   * 4 gallons, water
   * 1 ounce, dandelion root
   * 2 ounces, wintergreen

Procedure:

Wash roots well in cold water. Add juniper berries (crushed) and hops. 
Pour 8 quarts boiling water over root mixture and boil slowly 20 minutes. 
Strain through flannel bag. Add sugar and remaining 8 quarts water. Allow
to stand until lukewarm. Dissolve yeast in a little cool water. Add to
root liquid.  Stir will. Let settle then strain again and bottle. Cork
tightly. Keep in a warm room 5 to 6 hours, then store in a cool place. Put
on ice as required for use. 


  We need to point out that sassafras oil -- the key ingredient in root beer
before 1960, when the U.S. Food and Drug Administration labeled it a
carcinogen and banned its use -- has been replaced by sassafras that has
been treated to remove the offending oil or by synthetic flavor.