Indian Sarsaparilla

Indian sarsaparilla is a slender, twining perennial climber of the dogbane family with milky latex, narrow dark green leaves often streaked with white, small greenish-purple flowers and a long, aromatic, woody root. It grows over much of India, including the plains and hills of Kerala.

The fragrant root, called Sariva in Ayurveda and nannari in South India, is traditionally used in cooling drinks and in skin care and general wellness preparations. It is a well-known substitute for true sarsaparilla.