the friday feed: sassafras {june 16, 2023}

Sassafras is well known for its medicinal use and as a spice, especially for root beer, and its use dates back to the 1500s.

Members of the Cherokee tribe reportedly boiled sassafras leaves to produce a tea intended to purify the blood and address a variety of ailments including skin diseases, joint inflammation and fever. The plant was also ground into a paste to treat wounds and sores, and the root bark was used to treat digestive issues. The leaves were often used for healing poultices and in tea preparations or as flavoring in food, while the root bark was the main source of its medicinal properties.

My neighbor has a sassafras tree in her back yard and as we discussed our gardens over a glass of her homemade elderberry cordial, she asked me if I made gumbo. “Yes, on occasion.” 

“Did you know that filé powder is made from sassafras leaves?

“Nope!”

She makes her own filé powder from her sassafras leaves and gave a couple branches to me to make my own filé.

Here’s what to do:

1. Cut small branches from a sassafras tree in fall before the leaves start turning color.
2. Wash the leaves. Hang the branches in a cool, shady place to dry slowly. Don’t dry the leaves in bright sunlight, which can cause fading.
3. Remove the dried leaves from the stems, discarding the stalks.
4. Crush the leaves by hand, then grind in a clean coffee grinder until a fine, green powder is formed. Sift the powder and store the filé powder refrigerated in a well-sealed jar.

The leaves are drying out and probably in a week they will be dry enough to grind. 

Bring on the gumbo!