Refined fragrance, transparent color, beneficial properties for the digestive system, the gums and much more. The worldwide famous mastic is produced in the fertile Greek island of Chios, located in northeastern Aegean Sea, and is exported all over the world since the ancient times.
The mastic tree (pistacia lentiscus) is an evergreen shrub that grows in Chios thanks to the calcareous soil, the sunny weather and the low rainfall of the island. Mastic is a resin obtained from its trunk and is still selected in the same way as it did many centuries ago. At the end of July, the farmers flatten the soil surrounding the trunk of the tree, clean it from any leaves and rocks and cover it with a white powder. Then, using all their skills, they slightly cut the trunk, starting from the bottom to the top, so as to extract the resin. The “tears” of the mastic tree are selected fifteen days later. The harvest starts an early morning at the beginning or the middle of September. After it is finished, during winter, women gather at their homes alternately to clean the mastic and remove any small leaves or rocks that may be stuck on it. It is then sent to the Chios Gum Growers Association and takes the abundance of uses that it is destined for. Nowadays, the mastic is produced in 24 villages in Southern Chios, the so-called “Mastihochoria” (villages of the mastic), given that the plant grows exclusively there. Bibliography concerning the cultivation of mastic trees begins in the 1st century AD with many writers, such as Claudius Galenus and Marcellus Empiricus, mentioning its health benefits that were known since then. Moreover, Mastihochoria, which date back to the Byzantine period, are nowadays under the protection of the Greek Ministry of Culture due to their unique architecture. These beautiful villages were built in order to organize and take advantage of the monopoly of the mastic, which was granted the Protected Designation of Origin by the EU in 1997.
The mastic has many secrets to reveal; it is a source of inspiration in the sectors of food and drink, in the pharmaceutical and chemical industries, as well as in cosmetics and perfumes. It is very famous as a chewing gum and as an essence in desserts. The mastic oil is used in the furniture and musical instrument manufacturing. Another interesting use of the mastic comes from the island of Aphrodite, Cyprus, where people use it as a seasoning during the production of local sausages. Finally, the famous mastic liquor is a beverage produced by distillation of mastic, pure alcohol and sugar. It is served along with the dessert as it helps digestion, while its beautiful scent and unique flavour taste great with coffee!
Bear in mind that the mastic is not only delicious, but also very beneficial to your health. It helps the digestive system and the oral hygiene. No wonder why during the Ottoman rule, the Sultans treated Chios so well; a large part of the mastic production was destined for themselves and their harem.
Visit the charming island of Chios and enjoy its natural beauty, its unique castles and seize the opportunity to watch the production and harvest of the mastic in September. Besides, the beginning of autumn is a great time to travel!
