Reply To: JoCoJollyGoodShoAGoGo – The UK Tour
Root beer is a bit more generic than ginger beer or ginger ale. Sarsparilla root has been used. Sassafras root was used until it was outlawed because of a carcinogenic component (something akin to the trouble with bergamot oil, but not so easily remedied). Artificial sassafras flavor is still widely used. I expect that many brands are a cocktail of artificial sassafras flavor, sarsparilla, ginger, and/or other roots and herbs.
Cream soda, since it came up, is typically vanilla-flavored.