Open A Sweet Mystery

[Julie Justice]

I wrote this question down, and looked it up, just like with the previous questions, and I was not completely happy with the results I got. The first time I looked on Bing, I got a lot of results that I was happy with, but I wasn't able to look at them all, and write them down. And when I came back a few minutes later, to look again, some results had been removed. The same thing happened on Google. So I really had to simplify the question, saying,"hyssop ancient egyptian sore throat cure" and this is what I found.

"Where Found- Grows wild in warm countries, dry soils, and frequently cultivated; introduced into the United States from southern Europe.

Medical Properties- Anthelmintic, aromatic, astringent, anti-inflamitory,
astringent, anti-viral, antispasmodic, expectorant (for congestion)

Legends, Myths and Stories-Herbs were well-known in ancient Egypt. A type of hyssop is mentioned in the Bible, in Exodus, 12: 22,"And ye shall take a bunch of hyssop, that is in the basin, and strike the lintels and the posts with the blood in the basin, and none of you shall leave the house until morning." (This was so that God's Angel of Death would pass over the house, while the Egyptians were suffering from the the various plagues. I think this is what is meant by Pasch, and is the reason that Passover and Easter are so close on the calendar. )

King David often used hyssop for cleansing his body from sin. "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean. Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." (Psalms, 5: 17)

Planted as a companion to cabbage, to keep away moths. Hyssop is an herby fragarance, often used in Chartreuse, Benedictine, and other liquers.

From the Greek word azob, hyssop is historically known as a holy herb, used for the cleansing of holy places.

Can be used as a home remedy for many ailments, especially coughs and sore throats and can be made into many forms, especially tea, which may be sweet, depending on which variety of hyssop is used; or could also be sweetened with honey."

Medical Herb Info

 

[Invader]

Would this be a marshmallow by any chance?

 

[Jason West]

I'm going to agree with @Invader on this one. I think its marshmallows.

 

[Zack]

Ding ding ding... @Jade, @Invader and @Jason West are on the right path, but take a closer look at the second part of the clue. No handouts from me this time, gotta do your research...

This sweet item was once used by the ancient Egyptians to cure sore throats, but you would more commonly find it in the shape of the god Horus today, especially when it's close to Pasch.

 

[Jade]

shape of the Egyptian god Horus?!?! That's one treat I can't find the right one...not unless it's a marzipan (an almond flavored treat) then again there's licorice? What am I talking about? This riddle is nothing but honey as a sweet treat to cure a sore throat in ancient Egypt.

*Jade is frustrated with this riddle!*Oh I give up with this riddle,Zack! (Although I got the answer right it didn't show and it didn't count on time.)

 

[Julie Justice]

OK, I wrote this down..again...and looked it up again...using both Bing and Google...and I got even LESS results than I did yesterday. So I looked up Invader's and Jason West's answer about marshmallows, and this is what I found.

"The first "marshmallow" was created in Egypt 2000 yrs. ago. Egyptian physicians pounded the root of the mallow plant into a medical syrup and ointment.

French candy store owners began making marshmallows in the 1800's. They used the sappy root, which they sweetened and whipped into an airy substance that was still very sticky. By the late 1800's, the demand grew so large that manufactuers streamlined their process by adding starch and making molds. At the same time, they substituted gelatin for the mallow root gum, which had to be harvested in swamps.

In 1948, marshmallow manufactuers sped up the process when Alex Doumak invented the "extrusion process" that is still used today. They pipe the fluffy mixture thru a long tube, and cut the tubular mixture into equal size bits: marshmallows. The outsides are dried and dusted with confectioner's sugar so they can be handled."

answers.com/Who Invented Marshmallows

Now, as for the part of the question that says,"You could more commonly find it in the shape of the god Horus, especially when it's close to Pasch."

Horus was an Egyptian god of the sun and sky and is often symbolized by an eagle. And since an an eagle is a type of bird...I would guess the "sweet item" is a marshmallow Peep...although this is just a guess and you won't find any info like that if you go to the website for marshmallow Peeps. And Pasch is one of many pagan holidays that celebrate the return of spring, and the rebirth of nature, and some..including one of the stories of Horus have elements of the redemption of mankind, similar to the story of Jesus. The pagan holidays technically come before Easter on the calendar, and of course, in the early days of the Christianity, the leaders of the various churches, just took elements of the pagan holidays and made it part of Easter...or Christmas...or whatever.

 

[Invader]

Horus is a falcon not an eagle.

 

[Julie Justice]

True. But I would still say that that makes the "sweet item" is marshmallow Peeps...which are usually associated with Easter...(although you can get them year-round) unless you are a person who celebrates Pasch...and you make chocolate falcons...the way other people make chocolate bunnies.

 

[Jason West]

Either way, marshmallow Peeps are the best food creation that I've ever had. (They're my favorite "candy" in real life)

 

[Zack]

Excellent Detective work @Julie Justice! And guess what? We've found the culprit who's been sending out these Sweet Puzzles. A wannabe VILE agent named Candy Kane!

We're issuing a warrant, but let's try to find out where she's going next. Here's the clue directly from Candy herself:

I'm headed Africa in search of Ivory, but it's not elephants I'm after. If I get my hands on all of this ingredient, it'll be no s'mores for you!

What country is Candy Kane going to, and what does she want to steal?

 

[Jade]

Even though I mess up this sweet case (it because my answer was never there on time sorry about this)...marshmallows (because of the s'mores clue) and Cote d'Ivore (which is called Ivory Coast)...oh fudge I think I got this one wrong...it's up to the rest of you,good luck!

 

[Jason West]

Ivory Coast and Candy Kane is looking for Althaea officinalis otherwise known as marshmallow root