What Does Root Beer Taste Like? Root beer is one of those drinks that are pretty polarizing. People either love it or they hate it. Even if you do love it, however, you might be hard-pressed to describe exactly what root beer tastes like (and if you don’t like it, well, then we’re just going to get into the weeds).
Root beer is a soft drink (usually) made from herbs and spices that has a very distinctive taste. It can be difficult to describe as it has a really unique flavour – it could be described as a cross between cola, ginger ale (or ginger beer) and sarsaparilla.
The Average Cook will answer this question in the most unbias manner possible. Read on to learn more!
Taste of Root Beer
Root beer is often difficult to describe as it has a really unique taste – it could be described as a cross between cola, ginger ale (or ginger beer) and sarsaparilla.
Root beer is a sweet, carbonated beverage that is brewed from roots and barks. The exact recipe varies by brand but it’s generally made with some combination of spices like vanilla, cinnamon, sassafras or birch bark. It also contains sugar syrup and yeast to add fizziness.
Because of its unique flavor (often described as a cross between cola and root beer), it can be hard to describe what root beer tastes like without actually tasting it!
But if we had to give you an idea…it might go something like this: “Root beer has a unique taste—it could be described as a cross between cola, ginger ale (or ginger beer) and sarsaparilla.”
Sweetness of Cola
It has the sweetness of cola but with different spice notes on top – think winter spices like cinnamon and clove rather than ginger.
Root beer is a sweet drink, but it’s not like ginger beer or ginger ale. It has a unique taste that you may have to try before you can describe it.
The flavor of root beer can be described as sweet and bitter at the same time. It tastes sweet, but not like sugar (which would be a weak sweetness). Rather, the sweetness comes from roots and herbs that are used in the brewing process—including winter spices like cinnamon and clove rather than ginger.
The bitterness comes from hops (the same ingredient used in many kinds of beer) which give root beer its signature bite on top of that sweet flavor.
Bitterness to Root Beer
There is also a kind of earthy bitterness or tang to root beer which comes from the bark of the root part of the drink’s name.
Root beer is a sweet, carbonated beverage that contains no alcohol. It’s made from the roots of the sassafras plant, which has an earthy flavor. The flavor is often described as reminiscent of wintergreen or licorice root.
Read more: What Does Paprika Taste Like
Not Everyone Like Root Beer
Some people love root beer, others don’t.
Root beer, like any other food or drink, can be a polarizing topic. Some people love it and some people don’t. It’s an acquired taste—not for everyone.
If you prefer to drink root beer through a straw, that’s okay! You’re not alone. Some people have strong opinions about drinking out of cups with thick rims instead of sipping from glasses with thin ones (like me). And if you don’t like the taste of root beer at all? That’s okay too! Different strokes for different folks!
Final Thoughts on What Does Root Beer Taste Like
Root beer is usually a love it or hate it drink. It has a really unique taste and is difficult to describe but if you like the ginger spice note without the bite then you may want to give root beer a go.
There is nothing wrong if you don’t like the taste of it. However, if you have not tried it before, definitely give it a go!
