Sarsaparilla refers to the
flavor which was originally derived from the dried roots of tropical smilax vines. Today, products featuring Sarsaparilla use artificial flavors.
Sarsaparilla is native to South America, Jamaica,
Mexico, and other parts of the Caribbean. It is been used throughout the world for many centuries, and in more recent
history, since the 1400’s, where it was introduced into European medicine by contact with the indigenous tribes in South America.
The word Sarsaparilla, or ‘Zarzaparilla’ comes from the
Spanish ‘Zarza’, meaning a bramble, and ‘parilla’, a vine. It is a woody vine that grows up to 50 meter long, and produces small
flowers in black, blue or red berry-like
fruits. It is the tuberous root, which is odourless and tasteless, that is used for medicinal purposes.
Sarsaparilla became popular in Europe in the mid 1500’s, and was traded mainly through
Jamaica into Europe. It was prized as highly medicinal with many healthy properties. It has many properties. Detoxifying,
pain relief, blood cleansing and helps to stimulate digestion. It has also been used for the
treatment of arthritis and the common cold. Sexual impotence, syphilis, gonorrhoea, rheumatism, wounds , fever, coughs, hypertension, digestive disorders, skin diseases, and cancer. There are no known side-effects for Sarsaparilla, however, ingestion of large dosages may cause gastrointestinal irritation.
Sarsaparilla is becoming more widely available in health
food stores, as well as tablets, capsules, and tincture products. Most of the Sarsaparilla root used commercially today comes from Mexico and Latin America as well as China.
When I was small, there was a famous drink which we can purchased cheap in my hometown in Valenzuela . Its name is Sarsi and it was always advertised as a Sarsaparilla drink. Sarsi was manufactured by Cosmos Bottling Company in Valenzuela,Metro Manila (previoulsy known as Valenzuela, Bulacan) where these Sarsaparilla/Sarsi drink were manufactured and bottled.
Sarsi is a sarsaparilla-based soft
drink sold in
Australia, the Philippines and other Southeast Asian countries
Related Articles to the term 'Sarsaparilla' |
| 'Guava' | ■■■■■■ |
| Indian: Perakka, KoyyakkaGuavas (singular guava) are plants in the Myrtle family (Myrtaceae) genus Psidium, . . . Read More |
| 'Agraz' | ■■■■■ |
| Agraz is a Spanish term which means sour grapes, grapes that are not yet ripe or verjuice, sour grape . . . Read More |
| 'Chufa' | ■■■■■ |
| Chufa also known as Chufa Nuts are tiny, tuberous roots of an African plant of the sedge family. . . . Read More |
| 'Hamonado' | ■■■■■ |
| Hamonado is a Filipino dish known for its sweet and savory flavors, primarily made with pork. The term . . . Read More |
| 'Breadfruit' | ■■■■■ |
| Indian: Kada Chakka, Cheema ChakkaBreadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) is a species of flowering tree in the . . . Read More |
| 'Flour' | ■■■■■ |
| Flour is a powder made by grinding raw grains, roots, beans, nuts, or seeds. Flours are used to make . . . Read More |
| 'Khaddu' | ■■■■■ |
| Khaddu refers to squash or pumpkin used in Caribbean cuisine. Usually, traditional pumpkins from North . . . Read More |
| 'Mexico' at maritime-glossary.com | ■■■■■ |
| Mexico in the maritime context refers to the nation's significant involvement and influence in various . . . Read More |
| 'Tomato' | ■■■■■ |
| Tomato: Indian: ThakkaliThe tomato is the edible, often red fruit of the plant Solanum lycopersicum, . . . Read More |
| 'Daing' | ■■■■ |
| Daing refers to a Filipino word which usually means dried fish. . . . Read More |
