Question: are sassafras and sarsaparilla the same thing?
Answer: Initially, sarsaparilla was made from the sarsaparilla vine, while root beer was developed from the roots of the sassafras tree. Modern root beers do not include sassafras due to its potential health hazards. ... Sarsaparilla is a carbonated soft drink primarily made from the root of “Smilax ornata” (sarsaparilla) root.