Talk:Sarsaparilla (drink)

where the drink was often called, incorrectly, "sassparilla"
That's how it's usually pronounced -- even by rhotic speakers (those who put in their preconsonantal and final r's). It's like "ass" instead of "arse." I've never heard anyone actually pronounce it "sarsaparilla." That would be beyond pedantic. Kostaki mou (talk) 03:05, 14 September 2013 (UTC)

Sarsaparilla and root beer?
The article briefly mentions the relation. I drink sarsaparilla every day. It tastes 100% like root beer in the USA. There is no way that sarsaparilla is not just another word for "root beer". I always assumed so people didn't confuse it with standard beer. If I am not drinking sarsaparilla, I buy "alcohol-free root beer"...184.155.130.147 (talk) 19:23, 7 August 2014 (UTC)

Plagiarism / Copyright violation
The paragraph that cites the Straight Dope is largely lifted from the source, with minor additions and rewordings. It should either quote from the source or be rewritten. As evidence, here's the corresponding paragraph from the source:

"You might think that sarsaparilla would be made from extract of the sarsaparilla plant, a tropical vine distantly related to the lily, but you'd be wrong. It was originally made (artificial flavors have taken over now, of course) from a blend of birch oil and sassafras, the dried root bark of the sassafras tree. Sassafras was widely used as a home remedy in the nineteenth century — taken in sufficient doses, it induces sweating, which some people thought was a good thing. Sarsaparilla apparently 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 and headaches." 74.92.140.243 (talk) 00:32, 11 October 2015 (UTC)

Sarsaparilla and Sarsi - merge proposal
What the point to have two page for the same kind of drink? One for drink one for brand?? Or one for product that genuinely made with sarsaparilla, one now replaced with supplement? Matthew_hk  t  c  14:06, 2 November 2017 (UTC)


 * Don't merge. Coca-Cola and Pepsi, to name just two, have their own dedicated brand-name beverage articles, while each generically being a cola drink. Sarsi is already mentioned and linked in the sarsaparilla article. 5Q5 (talk) 14:58, 25 July 2018 (UTC)
 * So there is Sarsaparilla flavored, named Sarsaparilla soft drink, as well as Sarsaparilla flavored, named Sarsi soft drink, as well as cola flavored, named Sarsaparilla/Sarsi soft drink. For whatever reason, it do sound stronger reason to merge the articles. Matthew_hk   t  c  15:56, 25 July 2018 (UTC)


 * Given one example HeySong Sarsaparilla had the English name Sarsaparilla but had the Chinese name "Sarsi " and the photos of the drink were appeared in both articles.  Matthew_hk   t  c  15:58, 25 July 2018 (UTC)
 * Support merge. My view is that Sarsi (drink) is an Asian synonym for sarsaparilla, as Matthew_hk points out, and so can be discussed along with Sarsaparilla (soft drink). There is then the separate question of whether Sarsi as a brand is independently notable; my view is that the small amount of content on this topic means that the material is best discussed on one page, so I support merging the whole Sarsi (drink) to Sarsaparilla (soft drink). Klbrain (talk) 10:49, 2 February 2019 (UTC)


 * Support the merger. --Jeonghyeonseo (talk) 10:42, 28 February 2019 (UTC)
 * ✅ Klbrain (talk) 19:02, 5 April 2019 (UTC)

Combine Sarsi with Sassafrass and Root Beer Section
The Sarsaparilla, Sassafras Tea, Sarsi and Root Beer sections should be combined with appropriate sub-sections. These are all related. I drink (Philippine) Sarsi when I am in that country and whenever it is available elsewhere and also enjoy (American) Root Beer as well as Sassafras Tea (mostly for it's aromatic nature). I propose that "Sassparilla" be offered at least as an alternate spelling as that is the way "Sarsaparilla" is generally - if not always - pronounced. I've never heard it pronounced "sar-sa-pa-ril-la" but, rather, "sass-pa-ril-la." Even Merriam-Webster online offers "sass-pa-ril-la" as the correct pronounciation. (See: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sarsaparilla) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2600:1700:B780:9480:E1B1:A3E1:7A5C:DA0B (talk) 17:32, 2 December 2017 (UTC)


 * As far as the spelling, your own source, Merriam Webster, should give you a clue. Yes they offer an alternate pronunciation, but they do not offer an alternate spelling. It is spelled sarsaparilla and always has been, unless it is misspelled. I suspect sassparilla as a pronunciation was always a mispronunciation until it became widely accepted. Spelling it without the r in English, has never been widely accepted. Try typing it into Google. They'll correct it for you. SentientParadox (talk) 17:51, 20 April 2018 (UTC)

Sarsaparilla in popular culture
As editors know, popular culture reference sections are frowned upon in articles unless they are important or otherwise duly sourced. See WP:POPCULTURE. In case any journalists or documentary filmmakers come here looking for examples (researching leads for film clips they can obtain a license to use) in TV shows and theatrical films, here are a couple where the drink is mentioned in the dialogue. If you know of any others, list them here and maybe these can be worked into the article someday. 5Q5 (talk) —Preceding undated comment added 2018-07-25T15:27:03‎
 * The Big Valley S01 EP05 "The Odyssey of Jubal Tanner" Oct 13 1965 (mentioned in dialogue, have not seen lately so cannot confirm if the drink is shown onscreen).
 * The Big Valley S02 EP 20 "The Stallion" Jan 30 1967 (good bar room scene where elderly ranch hand Paul Fix orders his pig-tailed teenage granddaughter Brooke Bundy [age 22 playing 14] sarsaparilla from the bartender and she sips it from a glass as they talk; his drink is hard liquor).

Deliberately omitting crucial information
I just CANT believe that, under history, the first thing it mentions is the ue when it is common knowledge that its popularisation as a beverage was originated in SPAIN with their “Zarzaparrilla 1001” drink even before anyone in the ue considered to use the sarsaparilla for a drink, i mean, like, EVEN THE NAME IS SPANISH (ORIGIN OF SARSAPARILLA 1570–80; < Spanish zarzaparrilla, equivalent to zarza bush + parrilla (parr(a) vine + -illa diminutive suffix)... not only that but the author opts to completely and blatantly ignore any non english-speaking country on the history section...... Thats not only shady and childish but also despicable like, THIS IS AN ENCYCLOPEDIA and you are supposed to objectively inform. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 91.193.155.114 (talk) 14:53, 24 July 2019 (UTC)

A Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. —Community Tech bot (talk) 12:22, 26 August 2019 (UTC)
 * Heysong Sarsaparilla.jpg

A Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion
The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion: Participate in the deletion discussion at the. —Community Tech bot (talk) 04:06, 5 November 2019 (UTC)
 * HeySong Sarsaparilla aluminium can 20170819.jpg

Pronunciation
Article still needs a 'Pronunciation' section or a note added to 'Etymology'. Heavenlyblue (talk) 06:13, 31 March 2021 (UTC)

Sarsaparilla in video games
Please, someone, add information about sarsaparilla being common in "Follout" video games and its bottle cap been used as money 84.205.231.40 (talk) 06:57, 6 February 2024 (UTC)


 * not just sarsaparilla caps are used as currency.All types of caps are used as currency in the fallout series but yes I agree someone should add a "In popular media" section to this page. 71.14.253.152 (talk) 15:33, 20 March 2024 (UTC)