Marshmallow marshmallow a day. Today, the marshmallow typically consists of four components. These are sugar, water, air, and a whipping agent (usually a protein). The type of sugar and whipping agent varies depending on desired characteristics. Each ingredient plays a specific role in the final product. Confectioners in early 19th century France pioneered the innovation of whipping up the marshmallow sap and sweetening it, to make a confection similar to modern marshmallow. The confection was made locally by the owners of small sweet shops. They would extract the sap from the mallow plant's root, and whip it themselves. The candy was
Styrax officinalis spring to summer (May–June). "Styrax officinalis" subsp. "redidivus", "Styrax officinalis" subsp. "fulvescens" (both native to California) and "Styrax officinalis" subsp. "jaliscana" (native to Mexico), were included here, but recent molecular analysis has suggested that they may be diverged to the point of being separate species. This species is native to southern Europe and the Middle East. It prefers dry rocky slopes, woods and thickets at an elevation up to above sea level. This plant is the "official" source of styrax, an herbal medicine known from ancient times. Some believe its oleoresin to have been the stacte used together with frankincense,