Drink Some Sassafras
We’ll never know for certain whether there was a turkey on the table at the very first Thanksgiving, but we do know about the native wild plants which would have been available to the Pilgrims of New England. Foraged foods like cranberries, wild grapes, walnuts, sassafras and perhaps even some leftover maple syrup from the spring sap run could have ended up on the feasting table. Sorry Coke and Pepsi, you were invented a few centuries too late to make it to the first Turkey Day table. Some food historians believe that the only drink consumed at the first Thanksgiving was water. Yet one prominent guest at the feast, Chief Massasoit, was known to have loved sassafras tea. Wouldn’t you provide your honored guest with something they really like? Sassafras roots can be dug and brewed into tasty tea, throughout the year. Today, you might be able to pick up some sassafras tea extract at your local market, or dried sassafras roots from a health food store. But it’s far more traditional and meaningful to dig up your own. And even though sweetener was in short supply in the Plymouth Colony in 1621, it doesn’t mean you have to drink unsweetened tea. Pour some real maple syrup into the hot tea for an amazing tasting and historically accurate beverage.
Happy Thanksgiving!
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