March: Marsh Mallow

Ever wondered where marshmallow confectionary originated from and why they are so called?

Ancient Egyptians were the first to enjoy a gooey treat, now called marshmallow, as early as 2000 BC. The treat was considered extremely special and was reserved for gods and royalty only.

The marshmallow delicacy was originally made from the marshmallow plant that grows wild in marshes. The plant is part of the Malvaceae family, which includes hibiscus, hollyhock and Okra. 

In Britain, Ireland and other parts of Northern Europe, marshmallow blooms from August to September, mainly along the coastal areas of the south and west of England and Wales. The plant has also spread throughout much of the western Mediterranean region.

The Egyptians squeezed sap from the marshmallow plant and mixed it with nuts and honey. However, it was when the French were introduced to marshmallows in the early to mid-1800s, that the tasty treat really started to take off.

Owners of small confectionery stores whipped sap from the mallow root into a fluffy sweet mould. This time-consuming process was typically done by hand and candy stores had a hard time keeping up with the demand!

Confectioners started looking for a new process to make marshmallows and found the starch mogul system in the late 1800s. A starch mogul system is an industrial confectionery machine used for casting liquid, gel, or jelly candy - such as marshmallows - into cornstarch-filled trays. It facilitated high-speed, consistent production of detailed shapes. 

At this same time, makers replaced the mallow root and stem with gelatine, which created the marshmallow stable form we now enjoy today!

The delightful pink and white marshmallow sweets are probably this wildflower's main claim to fame, but not the only one. Throughout history various parts of this plant have also been used for a range of purposes, including potions to cure aches, pains and hangovers. It was also made into a poultice to draw out bee stings and other insect stings. Finally, it was also though to act as an aphrodisiac!

Hippocrates was a big fan of marshmallow and he “gave to drink a decoction of its root-juice to wounded people thirsty because of blood loss, and applied the mallow leaf itself onto wounds with honey and resin; similarly onto contusions, luxations and swellings; and he applied it as above onto muscles, sinews and joints; he gave it to drink in wine to people suffering from spasms or dysentery.”

Furthermore, the clue is in the genus name Althaea, which may come from the Greek althos, meaning 'healing'. The specific word officinalis means official, which usually indicates that this plant is (or was) considered to have pharmaceutical properties.

Humans are not the only species which rates this plant highly. The rare Marshmallow moth, which is restricted in Britain to a few scattered localities in Kent and East Sussex, is also a fan. Indeed, so much so, that this is its caterpillars only foodplant!