Sarsaparilla is not readily available in most countries; however, many
bars and most major supermarket chains in the Philippines, Taiwan, Singapore and Australia stock sarsaparilla-flavored soft drinks, and sarsaparilla remains available in the United Kingdom as a legacy of the
temperance movement.
United States , 1886 The classic sarsaparilla was not made from the extract of the sarsaparilla plant, a tropical vine distantly related to the lily. It was originally made from a blend of birch oil and
sassafras, the dried root bark of the sassafras tree. In this context, sassafras should not be confused with common sassafras seasoning,
filé, used in
Cajun cooking and made from dried and ground sassafras leaves. Sassafras was widely used as a home remedy in the 19th century; taken in sufficient doses it induces sweating, which some people thought had health benefits. Sarsaparilla made its debut as a patent medicine, an easy-to-take form of sassafras, much as
Coca-Cola was first marketed in 1885 as a remedy for hangovers, headaches and morphine addiction. Besides the effects of the ingredients, sodas were popular in the United States at the time, due to the belief that
carbonated water had health benefits. In 1960 the FDA banned the use of sassafras oil in foodstuffs after evidence accumulated showing that the main constituent,
safrole, was carcinogenic. Safrole is also found in filé, nutmeg, mace, cinnamon, anise, black pepper and sweet basil, but in low enough concentration to be deemed safe.
East Asia Taiwan HeySong Sarsaparilla () is the most popular brand of sarsaparilla drink in Taiwan. It is manufactured by
HeySong Corporation.
Southeast Asia Cambodia In Cambodia, sarsaparilla is one of the flavors sold under the
Fanta brand, bottled and distributed by Cambodia Beverage Company Ltd., a unit of the Coca-Cola SABCO Group.
Indonesia There are two well known sarsaparilla brands in Indonesia,
Badak (from
North Sumatra) and Indo Saparella (from the
Special Region of Yogyakarta). Badak was established by a Swiss national named Heinrich Surbeck in 1916 in
Pematangsiantar,
North Sumatra and Indo Saparella was established in 1960 in
Yogyakarta. There is also Agung Ngoro a local soft drink brand who produces traditional sarsaparilla in a glass bottle.
Thailand Hi-Mark by
Green Spot was the domestic sarsaparilla drink in Thailand, but was discontinued in 2000.
F&N Sarsi has been produced in Thailand by Sermsuk Public Company Limited since 2018, reviving a brand last sold locally in the 1990s. ==Sarsi (brand)==