Skip to main content

Simple Uses for Marshmallow

 

When you have a large crop of marshmallow from the garden or farmstand, you don't have time to casually include it in complicated recipes or to frantically figure out how to use it up before it goes bad without getting sick of it.  You want to make the most of your harvest and to actually enjoy it.


Here at Plant to Plate, we like to keep things simple!  Here are some of my favorite ways to use or preserve marshmallow:


  • Make a cold infusion.  Steep the marshmallow, alone or with other herbs, in cold, cool, or room-temperature water for 5-12 hours.  This is the preferred preparation for marshmallow and other mucilaginous herbs because heat destroys mucilage.  Marshmallow flowers, leaves, other aerial parts, and roots can all be used in this type of tea (infusion).  

    • Unlike most roots that are used in herbal preparations, marshmallow roots are not recommended for decoctions since decoctions involve even longer exposure to heat.  

    • Marshmallow makes a great companion to dry herbs like thyme and sage in a cold-tea blend due to its wonderfully moistening mucilage.  Thyme and sage in particular are good pairings since they and marshmallow all support respiratory health.  It also pairs well with borage and hibiscus.

  • Powder the root and add it to smoothies and baked goods.  Be sure to include plenty of liquid, as marshmallow root tends to absorb liquid in the intestines.  But it is rich in beneficial dietary fiber and other nutrients.

  • Add the flowers and leaves directly to smoothies.


  • Make herbal candy.  Marshmallow is the namesake of the popular confection for a reason!  The common sweets were originally made from the plant.  While herbal marshmallow candy is unlikely to resemble the super-sweet, heavily processed version in stores today, it is still delicious and, in some ways, a similar consistency.

  • Make a tincture.  This is not as highly recommended for marshmallow as it is for other herbs because the benefits of mucilage are not gained from tincture.  Mucilage is water-soluble, so it can be extracted in water via the cold infusion method described earlier.  But it is not soluble in alcohol.  Of course, marshmallow has other properties besides mucilage.  If a tincture is desired, an herb:solvent ratio of 1:5 at 25% alcohol is suggested.



Further Reading

Growing marshmallow?  Check out these quick facts like its best growing conditions, companion plants, and expected yields.


Marshmallow is also featured in these articles:


Get your free garden planner!

Get the Plan Ahead! Printable Garden Planner (normally $10) absolutely FREE with email signup. You'll also get our latest content and updates sent directly to your inbox for FREE. Plan your next garden better!

    We respect your privacy. We won't sell your data or send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.




    Popular posts from this blog

    Growing Marshmallow: Quick Facts

    Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the patio, or anywhere else, marshmallow is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing marshmallow. Jump to: Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | When to Harvest | Ingestibility | Further Reading What  Family  Does Marshmallow Belong To? Marshmallow ( Althea officinalis ) belongs to the Malvaceae family , also known as the mallow family . Some of its relatives include okra, hollyhock, and cacao. What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Marshmallow? The minimum container size recommended for marshmallow is 5 gallons. A 5-gallon bucket or container is usually about 12 inches deep.  But the capacity of the container is important because marshmallow needs to spread out in all directions, not just vert...

    Growing Toothache Plants: Quick Facts

    Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the windowsill, or anywhere else, toothache plants are a great addition or re-addition to your plant family.  Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing toothache plants. This plant is known by a few other common names as well, including spilanthes, electric daisy, buzz buttons, saladcress, jambu, and eyeball plant, among others.  Many of these names were inspired by its rapid numbing action.  See the  Ingestibility  section below for more information. Jump to: Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading What Family Do Toothache Plants Belong To? Toothache plants ( Spilanthes acmella ) belong to the Asteraceae family , also known as the daisy family . Some of their relatives include feverfew , sunflowers ,...

    Welcome to Plant to Plate!

    Welcome to Plant to Plate! We focus on  simple growing tips  and  simple ways to either use the harvest or save it for later . Our gardening facts articles focus on basic facts about growing specific vegetables, fruits, and herbs.  We get right to the point - no anecdotes, essays, or filler content here! Our simple uses articles include simple pairings and other ways to either use the harvest or save it for later.  Harvest time is a busy time, so we keep these simple, straightforward, and easy to find too. Both of these sections are organized alphabetically by plant, so you can find what you need quickly and easily. The further reading articles go into further detail about these and related topics.  We keep them separate from the facts and uses articles so that you can always find those easily. Click here to get the Plan Ahead! printable garden planner completely FREE with email signup! Connect with Plant to Plate on Pinterest here and on Et...