Sarsaparilla

Sarsaparilla (Smilax regelii and other closely related species of Smilax) is a vine that bears roots with many useful properties. The vine has a long prickly stem and shiny leaves, and numerous reddish-brown roots up to 3 meters long. Several species of Smilax are used in agriculture, but the Jamaican S. regelii (syn. S. officinalis) is the species preferred for commercial use. Sarsaparilla is also grown in Mexico, Central America and parts of South America. It is also grown in parts of South India, known in Telugu as Sugandhi-pala and in Tamil as Nannaari. The primary uses of sarsaparilla include the flavoring of beverages, and homeopathic medicine.

Before processing, the roots are bitter, sticky, and have a strong odor. They are dried and boiled in order to produce the extract. In beverages, oil of wintergreen or other flavours may be added in order to mask the natural bitterness of the root. Root beer made from sarsaparilla roots is generally more "birchy" than the extract used in the more popular, commercial brands.

A carbonated sarsaparilla beverage produced by several different companies in Australasia is called Sars. A sarsaparilla-flavoured drink in the South East Asia is named Sarsi, but it is not commercially linked to the Australasian Sars.

Sarsaparilla in carbonated beverage form is available in the United Kingdom, produced for over 115 years by Fitzpatrick's Herbal Health, Britain's "Last Original Temperance Bar", noted for being the oldest known producer of the Sarsaparilla drink.