Mormons And Root Beer: What's The Deal?

Mormons are required to abstain from alcohol, hot drinks like coffee or tea, and caffeine. However, root beer is a non-alcoholic drink that is allowed under the dietary law The Word of Wisdom. Root beer is a popular drink in Utah, which has a high population of members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints. It is often served at Mormon parties and get-togethers, and some Mormons even add alcohol to their root beer.

Root beer is a popular drink in Utah, where many Mormons live

The drink's popularity among Mormons can be traced back to the religion's founder, Joseph Smith, who is said to have made and sold root beer to support his family and followers. Today, LDS families often serve homemade root beer at celebrations, and it is a common drink at Mormon parties, where there is usually a limited variety of beverages. Root beer is also included in care packages for LDS missionaries, who appreciate the familiar taste of home.

The "beer" in root beer comes from its original brewing process, which was similar to that of standard beer. However, unlike beer, root beer is carbonated with water, not fermentation, and it has always been alcohol-free. The drink's unique flavour comes from roots and barks such as birch bark, dandelion root, licorice root, or sarsaparilla roots, and it often includes additions like vanilla and molasses, giving it a creamy texture.

While root beer may seem like an unusual choice for a soft drink, its popularity in Utah and among Mormons is undeniable. It is a drink that is steeped in the history and culture of the LDS community, and its non-alcoholic nature makes it a perfect choice for those who follow the religious doctrine of abstaining from alcohol.

The beer in root beer comes from its original brewing process

Root beer is a non-alcoholic drink that is particularly popular in certain regions of the United States, including Utah, where there is a high population of Mormons. The "beer" in root beer comes from its original brewing process, which was similar to standard beer brewing. The first root beer was carbonated by fermentation using yeast, resulting in a foam head similar to that of an IPA on tap. Today, canned root beer is carbonated using carbonated water, making it easier to produce on a large scale.

Root beer was initially served hot and used medicinally, made from the American sassafras root, which was once used to treat colds, fevers, and rheumatism. By the 1850s, cold root beer emerged, with fans combining root beer syrup with soda water. The drink was first marketed as a medicinal beverage by drug stores. For example, Hires Root Beer was invented by a pharmacist who initially sold it as Hires Root Tea.

In modern times, root beer brands use alternative roots and barks, such as birch bark, dandelion, licorice, or sarsaparilla roots, instead of sassafras, as it was banned by the FDA in 1976 due to its carcinogenic properties. Root beer can taste sweet, spicy, and slightly like an herbal tincture, with additions like vanilla and molasses giving it a creamy mouthfeel.

Root beer is a popular drink among Mormons, who follow religious doctrine that requires abstinence from alcohol and hot drinks like coffee or tea. Historically, LDS Church leaders interpreted this to include caffeine. As a result, caffeine-free soft drinks are prevalent in Utah, and the state is credited with starting the "dirty soda" trend. Root beer has long been a part of LDS culture, with homemade root beer served at Fourth of July barbecues and Halloween gatherings. It is also included in care packages for LDS missionaries who crave a familiar taste of home.

While root beer is non-alcoholic, in recent years, hard root beer brands have emerged on the market, blurring the lines between soft drinks and alcoholic beverages.

Root beer is naturally caffeine-free, but some brands add caffeine

Root beer is a rich and creamy soft drink commonly consumed throughout North America. While most varieties of root beer do not contain caffeine, some brands do add caffeine to their products.

In general, most types of this beverage contain carbonated water, sugar, food colouring, and artificial flavours. However, a few brands contain added caffeine.

For example, the brand Barq's is notable for its caffeine content. The regular variety contains around 22 mg in each 12-ounce (355-ml) can. However, the diet version of Barq's does not contain any caffeine.

Other brands, such as A&W, Mug, and Dad's, also do not contain caffeine. But there are exceptions like Sprecher's Rev'd Up Root Beer, which offers a caffeine pick-me-up version of their regular drink.

If you are trying to limit or eliminate caffeine from your diet, it is important to read the labels carefully. Foods and beverages with added caffeine are required to list it on the ingredient label, but the exact amount may not be disclosed. To find out the specific caffeine content, it is best to check the product's website or contact the manufacturer directly.

Root beer was initially used for medicinal purposes

The next step in the evolution of root beer came in the form of 18th-century "small beers". American farmers took notice of indigenous customs and began using various roots, herbs, flowers, and barks to make slightly alcoholic drinks. Specific ingredients included sarsaparilla and sassafras, as well as allspice, birch bark, coriander, dandelion root, ginger, hops, juniper, liquorice, pipsissewa, spruce, vanilla, wintergreen, and yellow dock. These drinks were fairly healthy, as the water involved was boiled and then sanitized by the carbon dioxide and alcohol. The end product was so popular that even Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and Thomas Jefferson were known to imbibe it.

By the middle of the 19th century, individuals began selling root beer while marketing it as a health drink that could cure cholera. One particularly influential man, Charles Hires, brought his "root beer" powder mix into the public eye at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition. Hires also owned a pharmacy and supported the temperance movement, bolstering his health-conscious image. This branding especially came in handy for non-alcoholic root beer during Prohibition.

Mormons live by a dietary law called The Word of Wisdom, which prohibits the drinking of coffee, tea, and alcohol

Mormons live by a strict dietary law called The Word of Wisdom, which prohibits the drinking of coffee, tea, and alcohol. The Word of Wisdom is a Mormon scripture on drinking, derived from advice in the Mormon doctrine that was later turned into a commandment. The dietary law also means that many Mormons avoid drinks containing caffeine, although this is not an explicit requirement. For example, the church-owned Brigham Young University does not sell caffeinated drinks on campus.

The Word of Wisdom was initially looser in its restrictions, and there are several references to church leaders drinking casually, without sacrament or medicinal use, in official church history and leaders' journals. However, today, the commandment is taken very seriously by faithful members of the church.

The restriction on alcohol is based on an understanding of Mormon scriptures that does not fit with how they are naturally read today. The interpretation of the scripture has changed over time, and it is speculated that this is due to the influence of the temperance movement in the United States.

Despite the restrictions, Mormons do have a variety of beverage options, including root beer, lemon-lime soda, orange soda, and, in season, Steven's Hot Chocolate.

Frequently asked questions