Sarsaparilla Tea vitamins and Herbs.

Sarsaparilla Tea

Sarasaparilla (Smilax officinalis) has been used for its 
beneficial properties for hundreds of years by many different 
cultures. In Roman times, the young shoots were eaten, and the 
mature vines were worn as garland at festivals of Bacchus by the 
common people. According to ancient Roman writings, Sarsaparilla 
came from the maiden Smilax, who upon her love being slighted by 
the young Crocus, was transformed into this shrub.

In other 
cultures, the herb was not popular until the 16th century when 
Spanish explorers discovered the Caribbean species, a prickly 
(zarza) vine (parra) that was small (illa). That description 
became out word Saraparilla, and for the next 300-400 years, 
Sarsaparilla was used extensively for its beneficial properties.