Food history: marshmallows

October 21, 9:34 PMLA Healthy Cooking ExaminerJillana Miller

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 Modern day marshmallows are a soft, sweet, fluffy and playful confection. The light puffs of sugar may trigger thoughts of smores, hot cocoa, elementary school and other sweet scenarios. Though marshmallows were not always such a party favor. It appears that marshmallows were originally used as a medicine.

The medicinal method, utilized the extract of the mucilaginous root of the marshmallow plant. The mucilage was used to soothe sore throats. Other recorded applications of the marshmallow plant more closely resemble our modern day treat. Old recipes explain that, stems of marshmallow were peeled to reveal the soft and spongy pith with a texture similar to manufactured marshmallow. This pith was boiled in sugar syrup and dried to produce a soft, chewy confection.
While today’s marshmallows may resemble the original chewy candy in texture and flavor, they don’t actually contain any of the marshmallow plant. The current marshmallow consists mostly of egg whites, sugar, corn syrup and gelatin. Unfortunately, the newer version shows no evidence easing sore throats.