Overview
About the event
Taking a look at where this particular day began requires going back to the beginning. Maybe not completely back to the beginning of all time but, at the very least, to the beginning of the beloved marshmallow.
The namesake of the marshmallow is actually a flower (Althaea officinalis) but don�??t worry, no flowers are now harmed in the making of this delicious treat! It was named after the marsh flower which, appropriately, is known to grow in marshes. The root of this flower was originally used to flavor marshmallows, but now they are made with other flavorings. But the name still stuck.
Some historians believe that the marshmallow dates as far back as ancient Egypt, when the people would extract the essence of the marshmallow plant, mix it with honey, and then turn it into a sort of gooey candy. Because it was so decadent, it was exclusive to the wealthy and powerful, such as royalty.
The marshmallow more like we now know it wasn�??t created until much later�??in 19th century France. At that time it was created sort of like a meringue�??with egg whites, sugar, water and marshmallow root extract. They were then whipped into a fluffy, airy type of candy.
As they�??ve morphed over time, the marshmallow root has been dropped, as often the eggs also have. Then adding in some corn syrup, starch, and/or gelatin for them to keep their shape.
It�??s likely that the most famous treat ever made with the toasted marshmallow is, of course, the S�??more. This traditional girl scout invented outdoorsy treat includes cramming a toasted marshmallow in the middle of a graham cracker sandwich made with a few pieces of delicious chocolate. The warmth of the toasted marshmallow brings a melty sensation to the chocolate and the whole thing is just a delicious, gooey mess of fun.
