when were marshmallows invented

Marshmallows were first enjoyed by the ancient Egyptians as early as 2000 BC. They made a sweet treat by extracting sap from the marshmallow plant (Althaea officinalis), mixing it with nuts and honey, and reserved it for gods and royalty. The modern marshmallow candy, made with gelatin instead of marshmallow root, was developed in France in the early to mid-1800s, and mass production techniques emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.