Sarsaparilla (Spanish for "little grape vine") is a group of vines of the genus Smilax, native
to Honduras and Jamaica, whose extracts have been used
to flavor soft drinks or as a medicine. Both Smilax officinalis and Smilax regelii are used, along with other species of this genus. Harvesting of the long tough roots is very
labor-intensive. Other varieties of Smilax, such as common greenbrier and smooth carrion flower, are common weeds.
North American wild sarsaparilla is often confused with "real" sarsaparilla. Here
are some other sources of confusion:
An unrelated but highly toxic plant that is vaguely similar in appearance
to wild sarsaparilla, and
also has leaves in groups of three.
Australian
sarsaparilla tree (Alphitonia petriei)
A fast-growing evergreen tree with bark and leaves that smell like liniment when rubbed.
Edibility: Several species of Smilax have been used to
flavor root beer as well as the soft drink sarsaparilla, a drink that was fairly common when I was a kid, and even more common in
the old west. However, the sarsaparilla soft drink was
principally flavored by birch oil and sassafras bark. Today the drink is still available in a few places.
This is a syrup that can be used to make your own. See also these winemaking recipes.