Sarsaparilla
Sarsaparilla is a term for several tropical plants in the genus Smilax, as well as the aromatic flavouring made from their roots.
Sarsaparilla is a term for several tropical plants in the genus Smilax, as well as the aromatic flavouring made from their roots. It has a long history in traditional medicine and was once widely used to flavour soft drinks and root beer. The name is also sometimes applied to unrelated North American plants such as wild sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis.
Definition and naming
Sarsaparilla is a common name for several Smilax species and for products made from their dried roots. The term is also used more loosely for flavourings and beverages derived from those roots.
Plant characteristics
Smilax species associated with sarsaparilla are typically climbing or trailing vines with prickly stems and long roots. They grow in hot, humid environments and are harvested after several years of growth.
Traditional and commercial uses
The roots have been used in herbal medicine and as a flavouring in beverages. Sarsaparilla was historically used in traditional medicine for conditions including skin disease and syphilis. In modern use, it is mainly associated with flavouring, herbal supplements, and root beer-style drinks.
Related plants and confusion with wild sarsaparilla
In North America, the name can also refer to wild sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis, which is not a Smilax species. That plant belongs to the ginseng family and has its own separate uses and biology.
Key facts
- Sarsaparilla usually refers to roots from several Smilax species used as a flavouring and medicinal herb.
- The roots contain bitter compounds and have been used to flavour and mask medicines.
- Sarsaparilla was historically used in traditional medicine for conditions including skin disease and syphilis.
- It was once a popular flavouring in soft drinks and root beer.
- The name is also used for wild sarsaparilla, Aralia nudicaulis, which is a different plant in the ginseng family.
Sarsaparilla is relevant to Canadian readers through the presence of wild sarsaparilla in eastern and northern North American forests, including Canadian regions such as Saskatchewan, Newfoundland, and the northeastern United States and Canada.[8]
Frequently asked questions
What is sarsaparilla?
Is sarsaparilla a plant or a drink?
What family does sarsaparilla belong to?
What is sarsaparilla used for?
Is wild sarsaparilla the same plant?
References
- ScienceDirect — https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/immunology-and-microbiology/sarsaparillaSupports: Defines sarsaparilla as roots of several Smilax species, describes plant form, habitat, and uses as flavouring and in traditional medicine.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/topic/sarsaparillaSupports: Describes sarsaparilla as an aromatic flavouring made from Smilax roots and its use in root beer and medicines.
- Native Plant Trust — https://gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/species/aralia/nudicaulis/Supports: Identifies wild sarsaparilla as Aralia nudicaulis and notes its root use in homemade root beer.
- Province of Manitoba — https://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/crops/crop-management/wild-sarsaparilla.htmlSupports: Provides description of wild sarsaparilla and Indigenous medicinal uses in North America.
- U.S. Forest Service — https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/forb/aranud/all.htmlSupports: Gives the accepted scientific name Aralia nudicaulis and confirms it is in the ginseng family.
- U.S. Forest Service — https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/plant-of-the-week/aralia_hispida.shtmlSupports: Shows another North American plant called sarsaparilla and its distribution across North America.
- American Indian Health and Diet Project — https://aihd.ku.edu/foods/Sarsparilla.htmlSupports: Explains the term as a tonic from Smilax vines and notes historical beverage use and name origin.