This isn’t what we roast over the barbecue or open fire today, but it is the root from which we get the common marshmallow confection we use today. In the early 1800s, French chefs used mallow root sap, egg whites, and sugar to make a sweet concoction. Today’s marshmallows are a mix of sugar, water, and gelatin. About Rich Schwartzman Rich Schwartzman has been reporting on events in the greater Chadds Ford area since September 2001 when he became the founding editor of The Chadds Ford Post. In April 2009 he became managing editor of ChaddsFordLive.