Herbal Root Beer Syrup Recipe

April 12, 2026

Herbal Root Beer Recipe

Root beer is a classic herbal soda pop. Traditional root beer recipes, sometimes just called ‘sarsaparilla’, contained sassafras, sarsaparilla, and roots like burdock and dandelion.

Most people don’t have time to ferment traditional root beers at home anymore, so we made a quick-to-prepare recipe for an herbal root beer syrup instead.

In this recipe, we simmer roots, barks, and spices slowly to create a richly flavoured botanical syrup. Try adding this syrup to soda water to make root beer, or combining it with other ingredients for making cocktails and baked goods.

A Brief Note on Sassafras

Historically, sassafras root was a defining flavour in root beer. Today, sassafras is not as popular due to concerns surrounding its safrole content. We chose to omit sassafras from our recipe.

Herbal Root Beer Syrup Recipe

Ingredients:

4 tbsp sarsaparilla root
2 tbsp birch bark
2 tbsp roasted dandelion root
2 tbsp burdock root
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole star anise
1 tsp whole cloves
1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise
1 tsp dried orange peel
2 cups organic cane sugar

Instructions:

Combine all roots, barks, and spices in a pot. Add 2 quarts of cold water.
Slowly bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and decoct for 35–40 minutes, allowing the tougher plant materials to release their full flavour. Remove from heat and steep for an additional 30 minutes.
Strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cloth, pressing the herbs well. Compost the spent plant material and return the liquid to the pot.
Simmer the strained liquid uncovered until reduced by about half. You should have approximately 1 quart of dark, aromatic concentrate.
While the liquid is still warm, add sugar, stirring until fully dissolved.
Simmer gently for 10 minutes, just until the syrup thickens slightly. Avoid vigorous boiling.
Remove from heat and allow the syrup to cool completely. Transfer to a clean glass jar or bottle and store refrigerated.