# Is there any actual use for Sarsaparilla?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-actual-use-for-sarsaparilla/795883>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 9, 2017, 10:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-actual-use-for-sarsaparilla/795883 "2017-09-09T10:20:39Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 3

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**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 5:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-actual-use-for-sarsaparilla/795883/41 "2017-09-12T05:02:37Z")

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> [@Ukulele\_Ike](#):
>
> Birch Beer, like Sarsaparilla, seems to me to be a Pennsylvania thing, at least in the northeast. I can get Birch Beer in central PA, but not much further east than that. Root Beer, on the other hand, is available everywhere.
> 
> Any reason for that, aside from local taste, and the ambition of retailers to satisfy that?

> [@What\_Exit](#):
>
> I get birch beer all the time here in NJ. I think I have some in the house right now.

I can get all three in Kansas.

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**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 7:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-actual-use-for-sarsaparilla/795883/42 "2017-09-12T07:19:24Z")

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> [@GreedySmurf](#):
>
> As to other uses? Why, Drink it up! I love a nice Sarsparilla, my personal favourite is the Bundaberg brand. I miss it, along with many other foods from home. ☹

Also my favourite brand, despite me not being Aussie; keep looking though, I have actually found it for sale in England, if only once (in a little hippy shop in Glastonbury town, of all places).

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**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 1:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-actual-use-for-sarsaparilla/795883/43 "2017-09-12T13:25:23Z")

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> [@Doug\_K](#):
>
> I can get all three in Kansas.

The Birch Beer is see the most (and buy the most) around here is **Pennsylvania Dutch Birch Beer**

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**Author:** ![tallcoldone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e9a140/32.png) [@tallcoldone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tallcoldone)\
**Post date:** [September 12, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-there-any-actual-use-for-sarsaparilla/795883/44 "2017-09-12T16:21:25Z")

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> [@Aspidistra](#):
>
> …I hate throwing things out. Is there any other use for the stuff? Is it good for the garden? Shoe polish? Floor cleaning? I’m open to any suggestion that doesn’t involve imposing it on my tongue…

Gently heat it to reduce it to a thickened paste. Spread it on toast.  
Hey, it works for Vegemite. :rolleyes:

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