Gumbo File Powder
Also Known As: File Powder or Powdered Sassafras Leaves
Origin: Cajun
Ingredients: Spices (Thyme, Marjoram), Sassafras.
Taste and Aroma: Fresh, warm and distinct. Smells like juicy fruit gum.
Uses: Cajun cooking, soups, stews, thickening and gumbo.
Substitutes: Arrowroot Powder can be used as a thickening substitute, but will nothing will substitute for Gumbo File Powder's distinctive flavor.
Fun Fact: Choctaw Indians were the first to introduce file powder as an ingredient in food, specifically soups and stews.