Pronounced “FEE-lay”, our Filé Powder is an herbal thickening agent made primarily from ground sassafras leaves. Filé Powder has a flavor that is reminiscent of anise and lemon, and smells like citrus with a bit of eucalyptus. It’s got bitter notes that may remind you of root beer, and that’s because sassafras roots were that soda’s principle flavoring agent. Ground sassafras is mixed with ground thyme and ground oregano in our Filé Powder to enhance its peppery depth and herbal lemon flavor. Sassafras leaves have an essential oil content of about 2% to 3% and exude a natural mucilage, the thickener that gives the powder its name.

Filé Powder should be used sparingly as it is very potent. If you add too much, cook it for too long, or cook it at too high a heat, your dish will likely turn stringy and gummy. While it is most commonly used to thicken gumbo, Filé Powder can also be used to season shrimp and grits. It’s great with stews, like crawfish etouffee, and can be a recipe rescue if you have a chowder that’s too milky. Give heft to vegetable gravy. Use as a thickener instead of roux, but be prepared for the final product to reflect the flavor of the changed ingredients.

Note: The bark of the sassafras plant contains an oil called safrole that has been outlawed for use in food in many countries because it is thought to cause liver cancer. Filé Powder, made from leaves, is not harmful to consume.

This product is a blend of ground sassafras powder, ground oregano, and ground thyme.

Our Filé Powder is cultivated in the USA.

This product is certified kosher.