Used by Indians from the Louisiana bayou, they were one of the first people to use this seasoning, made from the ground dried leaves of the sassafras tree. File powder is an essential ingredient in Cajun and Creole cuisines as a seasoning and a thickening agent. It has a woodsy flavor similar to birch or root beer and must be stirred into a dish after it is removed from the heat, as overcooking can make gumbo file powder tough and stringy.
Ingredients: sassafras leaves, spices, garlic
