Vegetable substance in sarsaparilla (3)

I believe the answer is:

sap

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'vegetable substance' is the definition.
'sap' can be an answer for 'substance' (sap is a kind of substance). I'm unsure of the 'vegetable' bit.

'in sarsaparilla' is the wordplay.
'in' indicates a hidden word.
'SAP' is hidden in the letters of 'sarsaparilla'.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for sap that I've seen before include "It's plant juice, idiot" , "trench used in siege" , "Plant's fluid" , "Moisture in wood of a tree" , "Weak foolish person" .)

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