Marshmallow: A Plant or a Treat?
Marshmallow… wait! Isn’t it a candy? Well, it is, but where did it come from? Actually, marshmallow (Althaea officinalis) is a perennial flowering plant native to Europe, Western Asia and North Africa. From ancient times (as early as 2000 BCE) it was used to soothe coughs and sore throats. For that Ancient Egyptians boiled its root pulp with honey. When thickened, it became the first marshmallow candy. But that’s not all…