just did, Trapper, thanks. I forget that we can post to a few forums at a time now...:)

I suppose that if I left the stuff out it would ferment...but doesn't sealing and chilling stop the fermentation process? I'm GUESSING that leaving for a few hours will cause SOME fermentation...no, I really don't want this to be alcoholic(although alcohol can be medicinal)....that's a few years down the road, when we set up our still(seriously... :))
I guess I ...dunno! We shall see! & I'll let you know how it goes!

Yes, I HAVE seen WT's pine needle tea recipe... :)

Oh, a quick question for you on Essiac. We brew up a batch of that now & then just because...well, we've lost people to cancer. Are there precautionary benefits to drinking essiac...? We like it... :)

Yeah, I saw something about sassafras & cancer when I was looking for recipes...what can I say? didn't really scare me off:)

" Sassafras contains the chemical known as safrole which is has been shown to be a carcinogen in laboratory animals and has been banned by the US Food and Drug Administration. Some commercial varieties of root beer use artificial flavoring agents, other varieties use sassafras extract from which the safrole has been removed. Removing safrole from sassafras extract and verifying that it is safe is a task which is beyond the ability and equipment of most homebrewers. Many home brewers use commercially produced root beer extracts for flavoring their root beer, because these extracts do not contain safrole. Homebrewed root beer is usually sweetened with table Sugar (sucrose), and is usually carbonated by adding yeast. Yeast-carbonated root beer contains a small amount of alcohol. Bottles of yeast-carbonated root beer may explode if allowed to ferment too long."

To me, it seemed like the typical study where an element is removed from it's natural form and...uh oh...bad things happen. Hell, I drive, in TRAFFIC! I ain't ascared of no sassafras!

BTW, I ordered it from http://www.mountainroseherbs.com. They have herbs in small quantities(4 oz.). Cost about $40 for everything, should make 8 gallons.

I'll let y'all know how it goes...I think we're gonna like it... :)

edited: more on sassafras from Mountain Rose' website:

The essential oil in sassafras bark contains traces of safrole, a toxic chemical. The danger of safrole is frequently exaggerated. For instance, HealthNotes, an online health reference, states:
"While the amount of sassafras that could potentially cause cancer in humans remains unknown, one cup of strong sassafras tea is reported to contain as much as 200 mg of safrole, an amount that is four times higher than the amount considered potentially hazardous to humans if consumed regularly."
This warning, however, did not come from original research. The actual analysis of the leaf found as little as 0.09 mg of safrole per cup of sassafras tea, or 99.95% less than the anti-herbal publication suggested. Later research reported by Dr. Jim Duke found that even if all the safrole in the herb leached into the tea, a teaspoon of the herb would yield about 3 milligrams of safrole, or, 95% less than the recommended maximum.
To ensure safety, however, use sassafras teas that have been found to be safrole-free.
Sassafras should not be used while pregnant and it should not be used for extended periods of time.

Thanks for your input, MH...Yeah, I didn't think that it was going to be "pop" but REAL ROOT beer... The recipe says to just let it sit for a couple of hours after adding the yeast so I'm gonna seal it & chill it...not let it ferment too much. People used to make herbal tonics for themselves all the time & I want to bring that back :)...