Root beer is prepared traditionally through the fermentation of herbal concoction made from sassafras bark, sarsaparilla root, birch, ginger root, wintergreen leaf, licorice roots, and other medicinal herbs. Sugar and yeast are then added to make it a probiotic soft drink.
Root beer is a popular drink in North America. It is often referred to as adulterated sarsaparilla because of the mixture of taste-enhancing ingredients like cinnamon, licorice, and honey. It can be made as an alcoholic or nonalcoholic beverage. Root beer is a versatile drink.
What does root beer taste like? Generally, root beer has a palate-pleasing sweet taste. The individual ingredients added to the drink enhance its taste. Sarsaparilla root and sassafras which is the main ingredient gives it a distinctive slight, mint-like and bitter flavor. The bitter taste is bypassed by adding sweeteners.
Unlike other types of beer, traditional root beer is characterized by a thick foamy appearance. Vanilla ice cream can be added to the beer to get a more pleasing taste.
Although the beer is common to Americans, its popularity is not confined to that region. Root beer is a soft drink suitable for consumption for all ages and easily prepared from the comfort of your home. When you see a bottle of root beer on your next visit to the supermarket, do not hesitate to try it out.
Nutritional Benefit of Root Beer
Each ingredient in preparing root beer does a lot of benefits to human health and its effectiveness. Sarsaparilla roots help to protect the liver. They contain a substantial amount of flavonoids that are useful in reversing or preventing damages to the liver. They also help it function at its best and act as synergists in the absorption of other healthy herbs in the body.
Root beer is useful in strengthening the body cells against immune deficiency diseases. Its sarsaparilla content acts like antifungal and antibacterial agents in treating illnesses like leprosy and syphilis.
Recent researches have also shown that root beer has anti-cancer properties due to the sassafras bark and sarsaparilla in it. It helped combat breast cancer tumors and liver cancer.
Obstruction to the free pumping of blood to different parts of the body is detrimental to health and can eventually lead to death. Root beer with the help of sassafras helps enhance the proper functioning of the circulatory system. It fosters steady passage of blood and helps eliminate specks of dirt in the bloodstream and veins. Also, it helps promote good skin health and has diuretic properties.
It also can ease digestion difficulties like bloating stomach, heartburn, diarrhea, and constipation. Some clinical evidence shows that the licorice root present in this beer helps treat ulcers. It is useful in easing back and nerve pains naturally.
Culinary Uses of Root Beer
Beyond the aromatic and health-improving properties of root beer, it can be used to enhance the taste of varieties of recipes. It can be served chilled with pastries.
You can slowly cook baked beans with root beer. It makes a great barbecue feast with meat, sauce, fried egg, and cornbread. Mix baked beans, chili beans, cooked and diced bacon, vinegar, syrup, dijon mustard, and a bottle of root beer. Pour the mixture into a pot and allow it to cook slowly for 12 hours.
The taste of your regular barbecue rub can be enhanced with the infusion of root beer barbecue sauce. To make barbecue sauce, sweat an onion, garlic, and ginger. Pour the extract into a bowl and stir it with ketchup and root beer before applying it to your carefully grilled or barbecued ribs. It can also be used to add an extra sweet taste to chicken and burgers.
Sweet and salty root beer sauce can be added to vegan stir fry. Heat a small saucepan pan filled with the mixture of root beer sauce, honey, garlic, and soy sauce over medium-high heat until it thickens. You can then add your pre-fried vegetables to it and allow it to cook for about 10 minutes. Serve it over a glass of red wine.
Where Did Root Beer Originate From? How Do You Procure It?
Root beer has been heavily embedded in the American culture for a very long time. The origin of the documentation of its recipe can be traced back to the 1860s. The beer gained its popularity in America in the 19th century, even though it has been sold in supermarkets as far as the early 1840s.
Some folklore tells the origin of root beer to have been as a medical accident when a local pharmacist tried using various herbs, berries, and roots to prepare an all-healing drug in 1870. Root beer can be purchased preserved in bottles and containers in supermarkets.
It can also be brewed at home provided the necessary ingredients are available. To do this, boil sarsaparilla, sassafras bark, and other herbs in a large stockpot of about 10 cups of water and allow it to boil. Allow it to cool off for about 15 minutes before straining the decoction and discarding the herbs.
Can You Get Drunk From Drinking Root Beer?
Traditionally prepared root beer cannot get you drunk. They are made with herbs and ingredients that have very low alcohol content. Although, more alcohol can be added to make a stronger alcoholic drink.
Facts You Didn’t Know About Root Beer
- The production of root beer accounts for about 3% of the American soft drink market.
- August 6th is celebrated as National International root beer float day.
- The first person to produce and sell root beer in the United States of America Is Charles E. Hires
- In 1960, sassafras which is a major ingredient in preparing root beer was banned by the U.S food and drug administration.