Have you ever wondered how to make root beer? Or why it’s called root beer? Well, those little mysteries are unravelled for us: root beer is made of a complex combination of different roots. Learn how to make root beer from scratch with this simple recipe.
Supposedly, root beer was originally invented by Charles Hires, a pharmacist from Philidelphia who made many tonics from various roots and teas for health reasons. He made a version that was sold with the promise of purifying the blood and making cheeks rosy.
Nowadays, you can find root beer at just about any grocery store or restaurant. The more I’ve travelled, the more I see that root beer is a distinctively North American treat. We just can’t get enough of the unique, earthy drink. Since root beer has natural and garden-grown roots (ha!), it’s one of the best sweet drinks to make yourself.
If you love the drink, why not learn how to make root beer yourself? It’s not as hard as you may think.
This post will cover…
- What is Root Beer?
- Root Beer Ingredients
- How to Make Root Beer
- Ingredients:
- Make it!
- Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Root Beer
- More Recipes to Try!
What is Root Beer?
The primary flavour you will recognize is sassafras, but many other roots come into play to make the famous beverage, like sarsaparilla, birch, wintergreen, licorice, and burdock. Together, they create a unique earthy taste.
In terms of soda, root beer reminds me of fall days. It’s sweet, full of rooty and distinct flavours, with notes of vanilla and brown sugar.
The more commercial root beers taste more syrupy than the classic flavours. Homemade root beers will have much more kick to them, especially when incorporating all the different roots.
In learning that root beer is just a combination of different roots, I was inspired to try my own version with ingredients found in the recipes that I thought would taste good together. I’ve made it many times now, and I think it is perfect!
Root Beer Ingredients
Root beer is a complex drink! To get such a unique flavour, you’re going to need a combination of the following ingredients:
- Ginger root: root beer tends to have a little spice to it thanks to ginger.
- Sarsaparilla: it has a slightly bitter flavour and is one of the root beer’s main profile notes.
- Sassafras: the other main component of root beer, it has a strong earthy taste with mild lemon notes. Modern commercial root beer no longer contains sassafras.
- Licorice root: unlike the candy, licorice root isn’t as pungent of a flavour. Instead, it’s mild and slightly bitter but hints at that distinct licorice flavour.
- Burdock root: one of the sweetest roots, burdock also has a mild nutty undertone and earthy taste.
- Mint leaves: some people note that root beer has a mild minty taste. While not the main flavour note, mint still makes its way through.
- Anise pod: anise has a similar taste to licorice and a natural sweetness.
- Dark brown sugar: brown sugar has molasses added to it, giving it an ultra-sweet and deep flavour that works well for root beer compared to white refined sugar.
- Vanilla extract: a hint of vanilla helps to offset all the bold root flavours and compliment the sweet aspects of the drink.
How to Make Root Beer
Learning how to make root beer is quite simple once you have sourced all your ingredients. Then, you make make it over and over again when you get that sweet root beer craving!
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups water
- 1 large thumb of thinly sliced freshginger root
- 2 ½ tbsp sarsaparilla
- 2 ½ tbsp sassafras
- 2 ½ tbsp licorice root
- 1 ½ tbsp burdock root
- 1 tbsp dried mint leaves
- 1 star anise pod
- 4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp real vanilla extract
Make it!
Combine all ingredients except sugar and vanilla in a saucepan and bring to a simmer for 30 minutes.
Stir in the sugar and vanilla until dissolved. Simmer on the lowest heat setting for another 30 minutes until the mixture is thicker and syrupy. Strain out all the bits, then cool.
Mix 1/2 cup chilled syrup with 1 ½ cups soda water (seltzer). Ensure that both the seltzer and the syrup are chilled, as the difference in temperature causes the eruption of fizz up and over your glass. Also, add syrup to soda, not the other way around.
I found the final drink incredibly flavourful, with all the complexity you would expect from having such diverse flavours mixed together and a creamy mouth feel.
I like adding as much or as little syrup as I want and controlling the sweetness, particularly when making a root beer float (which I have now done more times than I should)!
Frequently Asked Questions About Homemade Root Beer
How long does homemade root beer last?
After you make your syrup for your root beer, it needs to be refrigerated. It can sit in the fridge for up to a week before you’ll need to make a new batch.
Is root beer healthy?
Given the amount of sugar used in root beer, it would not be considered a healthy drink. While the actual roots of the root beer ingredients are known to have health benefits and are often used in traditional herbal medicine, the best way to get these benefits is by making herbal tea.
Is root beer just sarsaparilla?
Sarsparilla is made from the sarsaparilla vine. Traditionally, it used to be quite bitter. Root beer is also made from sarsaparilla, but sassafras used to be the main component and flavour of the drink. However, sassafras became a banned ingredient in the USA, so the two flavour profiles merged, and the sugary version became popular. While they may have different names, they have a similar flavour profile for the most part.
Can you eat sarsaparilla?
Yes! The root of wild sarsaparilla (Aralia nudicaulis) is used to make root beer. You can also make jelly or wine from the fruit. The leaves are also edible, but the root is the most common way to eat the plant.
More Recipes to Try
- Artisinal Herb-Infused Vinegar
- 3-Ingredient Pumpkin Dog Treats
- Mojito Mint Popsicles with Lemon and Honey
- Homemade Ginger Ale Syrup + Ginger Mint Lemonade Recipe
Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote
How to Make Root Beer
This homemade root beer recipe is one of the most delicious drinks you'll ever taste!
Cook Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Total Time1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: root beer
Servings: 8 people
Calories: 250kcal
Cost: $15
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups water
- 1 large thumb thinly sliced freshginger root
- 2 ½ tbsp sarsaparilla
- 2 ½ tbsp sassafras
- 2 ½ tbsp licorice root
- 1 ½ tbsp burdock root
- 1 tbsp dried mint leaves
- 1 star anise pod
- 4 cups dark brown sugar
- 1 tbsp real vanilla extract
Instructions
Set aside sugar and vanilla, and combine all other ingredients together in a saucepan. Simmer together for 30 minutes.
Stir in the vanilla and sugar until dissolved. Simmer again for another 30 minutes until the mixture is thicker and has the consistency of syrup.
Strain out the mixture into a jar or container, then let cool.
Pour 1/2 cup of chilled seltzer water into a glass, then mix in 1/2 cup of chilled syrup. Make sure both are chilled for the most fizz possible.
Sip and enjoy!
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5cup | Calories: 250kcal
