Sassafrassing

I’ve had a nostalgic day. I heard ‘Sassafras tree’ mentioned on TV, and memories of my teen years were stirred …

Sassafras trees lined the back of our property. One day, after the yellow blooms were a thing of the past, Daddy and I pulled a couple of young trees up by the roots, shook off the soil, and hung them to dry. Tying the plants together broke the thin skin of the roots, releasing a distinct spicy scent that reminded me of Fruit-Loops® cereal. The citrus fragrance permeated the air, and rewarded my mind with treasured memories that have lingered through the years.

I was intrigued by the various leaves on the trees. Some were round, some shaped like a mitten and others had three points. Who’d ever heard of a tree with three different shaped leaves on it?

While tying the small bundles, Daddy told me the early Native Americans used sassafras roots and stems for salves and other medical purposes. They’d chew the roots to lower fevers, or steep the stems for pain relievers. The oils from these plants were later used to make root beer and tea. (I think it is now used in making the drug ecstasy—yikes!)

Daddy liked Sassafras tea. I wasn't fond of the taste, but I loved spending the afternoon ‘sassafrassing’ with my dad.