Crones Corner
Incense, Oils, Herbs & Brews

Welcome to the Crone's Corner.  This page is dedicated to the Crone's art of herbalism.  Recipes may be either healing or magikal in nature.  However, none of the recipes are to be taken as a prescription or used in the place of proper medical treatment.  If you have a favorite recipe or are looking for one,  email me. _________________________________________________________________

 Sarsaparilla
We've all seen those old movies where someone orders a "sarsaparilla", but what is it?  In actual fact, what was known as sarsaparilla is what we now know as "root beer" because it was made from the roots of the sassafras plant.  This plant and drink were made  and drunk by the Native peoples of North America as a "spring tonic" for hundreds of years.  Interestingly enough, sassafras has become, of late, an herbal "prescription" for impotence!  The following recipe is from my grandfather, courtesy of old Fleishman's Yeast packages.
Old Fashioned Sarsaparilla

Ingredients:
     1 cake, compressed yeast
     5 pounds, sugar
     2 ounces, sassafras 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.

              Katya Kuchner
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