Origin and history
Marshmallow, also called althaea from the Greek althaino (“I heal”), is a medicinal plant recognized since antiquity. Used by the Egyptians and Greeks, it was already renowned for its soothing and calming properties. The Romans even consumed the cooked roots as a vegetable. Later, in the Middle Ages, it became a go-to plant for relieving throat irritations and digestive inflammation. In fact, the confection of the same name was created from the marshmallow root, before it was replaced by sugar and gelatin.
