When we were making up our trends list for 2007 we thought about adding gourmet hot chocolate to the list. Articles referring to upscale cups of hot chocolate seemed to be everywhere. Was it an offshoot of last year's infatuation with organic, high-cocoa content, single plantation chocolate? Or just a seasonal thing?

Either way, there also seemed to be a creative surge going on for hot chocolate's traditional sidekick - the marshmallow. This month Martha Stewart even features fancy cut out versions on the cover of her magazine.

But our favourite marshmallows, and we think even prettier ones than Martha's homemade versions, are these pastel coloured marshmallow daisies that we can only find in Chinatown. And only at one particular store - Main Prescriptions at 506 Main Street (at the intersection of Pender.) The store that specializes in exotic herbal medicines and made-in-china candies, also stocks an assortment of colourful marshmallows that include these flowers, as well as multicoloured corkscrews, plus the standard-sized but rainbow-hued square pillows.

The daises will liven up your mug of hot chocolate, but when the season for that bit of indulgence is over they also make excellent decorations for cakes or the tops of iced cupcakes.

About $1.69 for a large bag.