A sweet, woody flavor, the marshmallow root tea makes an interesting blend and is great on its own. I like to add a little sweetener, such as honey. Other common complements are peppermint and licorice root. The texture is smooth, as marshmallow has a high mucilage content, and thickens when cool. Ancient Egyptians boiled and mixed the root with honey to create a dense, cake-like confection reserved for the gods and royalty. But the true value of the marshmallow was its medicinal qualities. The root contains a gel-like mucilage that was said to soothe sore throats, gastrointestinal inflammation, stomach ulcers and, even, work as a laxative, among other qualities. Want an old time recipe for marshmallow root that goes beyond tea? Check out our Historical Insights dropdown.
