It can also be obtained in almost any woodland east of the Rockies... it's just dried ground up sassafras leaves. Powdered sassafras, or file' isn't just seasoning- it's a useful thickener for stews and soups that unlike corn starch doesn't have to be added to cold liquid, and unlike flour doesn't require much cooking to work. Sassafras is a common tree, very fragrant, fairly unique since it bears three kinds of leaves on one tree.
it’s just dried ground up sassafras leaves. Powdered sassafras, or file’ isn’t just seasoning- it’s a useful thickener for stews and soups that unlike corn starch doesn’t have to be added to cold liquid, and unlike flour doesn’t require much cooking to work.<<<
Now that I did not know...
Thank you for sharing it with us. I am glad you were reading the thread and caught it.
Years ago, I would buy and drink the sassafras tea, it was considered a tonic for what ailed you, but what I bought was the shaved roots pieces, as I recall.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family.