The Truth About Marshmallow

Don’t you just love sitting by a campfire roasting marshmallows. Mmmm… delicious! But it gets even better. Taste the the ooey, gooey goodness of toasted marshmallows sandwiched between layers of melting chocolate and crunchy graham wafers. Sitting around a campfire living, loving and laughing with friends and family is one of the most amazing ways to spend the summer nights.

Marshmallows vs Marsh Mallows

Have you ever thought about where the name marshmallow comes from? What’s in a marshmallow and what makes a marshmallow a marshmallow?

“Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” –Hippocrates

The funny thing is that the Marsh Mallow (Althea officinalis) is a plant, not the delicious white, fluffy confection has been used for more than 2000 years for food and medicine. The Romans, Chinese, Egyptians and Syrians used marshmallow as a source of food, while Arabs made poultices to reduce skin inflammation.

Coca-Cola was originally intended to be used as a patent medicine when it was invented in the late 19th century by John Pemberton. In fact, the name Coca-Cola comes from two of its primary ingredients.

• Coca – cocaine. Yes “that” coca.
• Kola nuts – caffeine

Learn more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Cola.

Like, Coca-Cola, marshmallows started out as products used for healing. French pharmacists (druggists) made a confectionary paste (Pâté de Guimauve) from the roots of Marsh Mallow to soothe sore chests, coughs and hoarseness.

Marshmallow Facts

The French continue to use the word “guimauve (pronounced “ghee-Mauve”) for marshmallow confections. Another interesting fact is that “mauve”—the pale lavender-lilac purple colour is named after the mallow flower. Another name for the color mauve is “mallow”. The first use of mallow as a color name is credited to the English way back in 1611.

So why did we choose to use Marsh Mallow extract in our products? We’ve learned that Marsh Mallows, are loaded with a mucilage. This thick gooey substance is filled with protein and nutrients that store water and food. The scientific name, Althaea, is derived from the Greek word “altho” (to cure), from its healing properties. The name of the family, Malvaceae, is derived from the Greek word “malake” (soft), from the special qualities of the mallows in softening and healing.

The truth is that marshmallows taste great and Marsh Mallows soothe, lubricate, moisturize and soften damaged hair and irritated scalps.