{"product_id":"marshmallow-root","title":"Marshmallow Root (Althaea officinalis) — Bulk Dried Herb","description":"\u003ch2\u003eMarshmallow Root \u003cem\u003e(Althaea officinalis)\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarshmallow root is one of the most gentle, soothing, and universally beloved botanicals in the Western herbal tradition — a tall, velvety perennial of the mallow family whose roots contain exceptionally high concentrations of mucilage, a complex of polysaccharides that form a thick, slippery gel when mixed with water. This mucilaginous quality has made Marshmallow root one of the most important demulcent botanicals in the world, used to soothe and coat irritated tissues across virtually every botanical tradition that has encountered it. And yes — the original marshmallow confection was made from the whipped root of this very plant.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOur Marshmallow root is certified organic, cut and sifted to preserve its full mucilaginous character.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eBotanical Profile\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBotanical Name:\u003c\/strong\u003e Althaea officinalis\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFamily:\u003c\/strong\u003e Malvaceae (Mallow family)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCommon Names:\u003c\/strong\u003e Marshmallow, Common Marshmallow, White Mallow, Mortification Root, Schloss Tea\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlant Part Used:\u003c\/strong\u003e Root\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePreparation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Cut \u0026amp; Sifted\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCultivation:\u003c\/strong\u003e Certified Organic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOrigin:\u003c\/strong\u003e Europe \/ Western Asia\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAppearance:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pale white to cream fibrous root pieces, slightly powdery\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAroma:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mild, slightly sweet, faintly earthy\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFlavor Profile:\u003c\/strong\u003e Mild, slightly sweet, distinctly mucilaginous — produces a slippery, coating sensation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAbout the Plant\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eNative to western and central Asia and southeastern Europe, Althaea officinalis has been cultivated across Europe and western Asia for centuries and has naturalized in parts of North America. It is a robust perennial that grows to 2 meters in height, producing large, velvety, grey-green leaves covered in soft hairs, and pale pink five-petaled flowers in summer. The plant’s roots — which can reach 1 meter in depth — contain up to 35% mucilage, making them one of the richest plant sources of this soothing compound. The genus name \u003cem\u003eAlthaea\u003c\/em\u003e derives from the Greek \u003cem\u003ealtho\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning “to cure,” reflecting the plant’s long history of therapeutic use. The original marshmallow confection was made by whipping the mucilaginous root extract with sugar and egg whites — a practice that dates to ancient Egypt, where the plant was considered a food of the gods.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eTraditional Context\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMarshmallow root has been used in botanical traditions since ancient Egypt, where it was used as both a food and a botanical preparation. It appears in the writings of Hippocrates, Dioscorides, and Pliny, and in virtually every major European herbal from the medieval period onward. It was used extensively in medieval European monastic medicine and remains one of the most widely used demulcent botanicals in contemporary Western herbalism. Cold infusions are traditionally preferred over hot infusions, as heat can degrade the mucilage.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eSuggested Preparations\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCold Infusions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Steep 1–2 tablespoons of root in cold water for 4–8 hours or overnight — this preserves the mucilage better than hot water\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDecoctions:\u003c\/strong\u003e Simmer gently in water for 15–20 minutes for a thicker preparation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTinctures:\u003c\/strong\u003e Suitable for glycerin extraction (glycerites preserve mucilage better than alcohol)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHerbal Blends:\u003c\/strong\u003e Pairs with Slippery Elm, Licorice Root, and Chamomile in soothing formulas\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eQuality \u0026amp; Sourcing\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ Certified Organic\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ Identity Verified\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ Ethically Sourced\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ Small Batch\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e✓ No Additives or Fillers\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch3\u003eStorage\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eStore in an airtight container in a cool, dark, dry place. Properly stored, dried Marshmallow root maintains its quality for 2–3 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eA Note on Use\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis product is sold as a botanical ingredient for culinary, educational, and traditional use. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Marshmallow root may slow the absorption of medications — take medications separately from Marshmallow preparations. Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner before use if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or have a health condition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eEvery purchase supports Twin Dragons Botanical Institute’s mission of botanical conservation, responsible sourcing, and the preservation of plant knowledge for future generations.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Twin Dragons Botanical Institute","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51584054296875,"sku":"SQ4261407","price":4.77,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0971\/3333\/0731\/files\/rn-image_picker_lib_temp_67adec55-e6c6-4304-b470-3e22780fecb4.png?v=1764898059","url":"https:\/\/twin-dragons.com\/products\/marshmallow-root","provider":"Twin Dragons Botanical Institute","version":"1.0","type":"link"}