File

File powder, also called gumbo file, is a spice made from dried and ground sassafras leaves. It is used in the making of some types of gumbo, a thick Cajun soup. It is sprinkled sparingly over gumbo as a flavoring and thickening agent, giving it a distinctive flavor and texture. Mixing okra and fil is considered a cardinal sin in Louisianan cuisine, as fil was originally an okra substitute when okra was not in season.

Safrole, the main constituent of sassafras oil which is distilled from the bark of sassafras roots, Genuine sassafras, however, is available from specialty suppliers, and is used extensively in Louisiana.

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