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67 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, September 16, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 24, 2004 Since you asked Confection first crafted from roots I’ve been wondering about marshmallows. The name makes me think they originally were made from a plant part (like tapioca is). If so, I would love to find one that is not artificial like the modern ones. Who invented them? — Jim M., Ashland You’re right, Jim, marshmallow candies do derive their name from a plant-based ingredient. Traditionally, marshmallows were confections crafted from the sweetened extract of roots of the marshmallow plant, according to the "Food Lover’s Companion" by Sharon Tyler Herbst. Egyptians made the first marshmallow candy 3,000 years ago, although it became popular in the United States in the 1800s, according to Internet reports. These days, commercial marshmallows substitute gelatin for the thickening agent. The marshmallow root, althea officinalis , grows in salt marshes and on the banks of large bodies of water. It apparently is common in the eastern United States. If you’d like traditional marshmallow recipes, your best bet is to try an Internet search, Jim. A quick peek yielded plenty of places to order powdered marshmallow root and a few instructions for what to do with it. Send questions to "Since You Asked," Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by e-mail to [email protected] . We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them. Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities