{"id":8147,"date":"2019-06-28T04:12:01","date_gmt":"2019-06-28T11:12:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nourishedkitchen.com\/?p=8147"},"modified":"2019-07-08T08:45:31","modified_gmt":"2019-07-08T15:45:31","slug":"homemade-root-beer-recipe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nourishedkitchen.com\/homemade-root-beer-recipe\/","title":{"rendered":"Homemade Root Beer"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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There's an old-fashioned charm to<\/em> homemade root beer <\/em><\/strong>with its odd array of roots and bark, flowers, leaves, and berries.  Fortunately, this old-fashioned herbal root beer recipe<\/strong> is easy to make at home. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You'll need aromatic herbs, a little bit of sugar, and a starter culture like ginger bug or kombucha. And within a few days, you'll have a naturally fizzy, bubbly brew.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

\"Three<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is root beer?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Root beer is a distinctly American drink with a sweet, herbal flavor that's been made since the colonial era. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, brewers made the drink by fermenting an herbal decoction made with sassafras bark, sarsaparilla root, and other herbs with sugar and yeast to make a naturally bubbly, probiotic soft drink. In this way, it joins the ranks of other traditionally fermented drinks such as kvass<\/a> and tepache<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the 20th century, the traditional herbal recipe fell from favor, and soft drink manufacturers began making it with artificial flavors. Moreover, they stopped culturing root beer and, instead, carbonated it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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<\/a>Herbs for Homemade Root Beer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

While most homebrewers make their root beers from artificially flavored root beer extracts, there's a certain undeniable charm of brewing root beer the traditional way. Slowly simmering a decoction of roots, bark, and spices, adding a touch of sugar, and then stirring in a starter. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then all you have to do is bottle the brew and wait for those beneficial bacteria and yeast to do their work. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sassafras, sarsaparilla, ginger root, and birch all give the brew its distinctive flavor, but without the additives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  • Sassafras<\/strong> gives root beer its distinctive, slightly mint-like flavor. And it's traditionally used to purify the blood in folk medicine.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Sarsaparilla<\/strong> is traditionally used as a renal tonic and for the complexion.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Ginger<\/strong> gives this root beer recipe a rich, fiery note. Herbalists use ginger to support cardiovascular and metabolic health, as well as for nausea and stomach upset. <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Licorice<\/strong> gives the recipe a subtle, anise-like sweetness that pairs well with sassafras. Licorice also supports adrenal health, and may be helpful in addressing hormonal imbalance in women.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Dandelion Root<\/strong> adds the subtlest bitter note to the brew. Dandelion root also supports liver health.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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