Chios Mastiha: A tear that pleases, perfumes, relieves, heals!»
Chios Mastiha is the name of a resinous sap produced from the mastic
tree (Pistacia Lentiscus var. Chia). It is a natural, aromatic resin in
teardrop shape, falling on the ground in drops from superficial
scratches induced by cultivators on the tree's trunk and main branches
with sharp tools. As it drips, this sap appears as a sticky and
translucent liquid which, 15-20 days later, is solidified into irregular
shapes influenced by the area's weather conditions in summertime, that
is intense drought and sunlight. After being solidified, it has a
crystal form, while its rather bitter taste quickly subsides to leave a
distinctive aroma that really makes it unique. That solid product is
then harvested and washed by mastic growers, giving us finally the
natural Chios mastiha. Its colour is initially ivory-like but as time
goes by, that shade is lost and 12 to 18 months later it changes into
yellowish due to oxidation. It is made of hundreds of components, among
which only 80 are contained in identifiable quantities. Such multitude
probably justifies the multiple uses of Chios mastiha, in the fields of
food industry, health and cosmetic care, worldwide. Chios Mastiha is a
unique product with many beneficial qualities and wide- ranging uses
since antiquity. Nowadays, it is used in pharmaceuticals, perfumes,
cosmetics, beverages, bakery goods, sweets as well as in cooking. Chios
Mastiha is the natural resin of Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia, a tree
which grows only on the Aegean island of Chios, Greece. Scientific
research shows that Chios Mastiha has anti- microbial, anti-
inflammatory, and healing activity. Also, it has beneficial effects on
both body hygiene and skin care. You can use mastic as ordinary chewing
gum, or you can grind it into powder and use it as a natural medicine
for peptic ulcers and general for stomach disorders.