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
Verbena officinalis plant" or "wild hyssop". The common name "blue vervain" is also sometimes used, but also refers to "V. hastata". And of course, being the only member of its genus in much of its range, it is also simply known as "the vervain" locally. The common names of "V. officinalis" in many Central and Eastern European languages often associate it with iron, for example: Common vervain was scientifically described by Carl Linnaeus his 1753 "Species Plantarum". The scientific name references the Ancient Roman term "verbena", used for any sacrificial herb considered very powerful (as described e.g. by Pliny the Elder). "Officinalis",