Chios Mastic Mastiha is a resin obtained from the mastic tree. In pharmacies and
nature shops, it is called "Arabic gum" and "Yemen gum". In Greece, it is known
as the "tears of Chios," being traditionally produced on that Greek
island, and, like other natural resins, is produced in "tears" or droplets.
Originally a sap, mastic is sun-dried into pieces of brittle, translucent
resin. When chewed, the resin softens and becomes a bright white and opaque
gum. The flavor is bitter at first, but after some chewing, it releases a
refreshing, slightly pine or cedar-like flavor.
The word mastic is derived from the Greek verb, μαστιχειν "to gnash the
teeth", which is the source of the English word masticate. The word mastic
is a synonym for gum in many languages. Commerce
Within the European Union, mastic production in Chios is granted protected
designation of origin. The island's mastic production is controlled by a
co-operative of medieval villages, collectively known as the
'Mastichochoria', which is also located in southern Chios. There is even a small
Museum of Mastic in the village of Pyrgi.
Traditionally there has also been limited production of mastic on the
Çeşme peninsula, on the Turkish coast only eight nautical miles from Chios,
with similar ecological conditions suitable for mastic production. The
Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and the
Protection of Natural Habitats TEMA has been leading a project to protect the
native mastic trees and to plant new ones in Çeşme peninsula to revive viable
commercial production. As part of this project, which is expected to last
through 2016, over 3,000 mastic tree saplings were planted between 2008 and
October 2011 to over 368 acres of dedicated farm land provided by the
Izmir Institute of Technology. The harvest takes place from the
beginning of July to the beginning of October. First, the area around the tree
is cleared and sprinkled with inert calcium carbonate. Then, every 4–5 days,
5-10 incisions are made in the bark of each tree. The resin flows from the
incisions and solidifies on the ground. The pieces of dry mastic can then be
collected for cleaning and eventual sale. In addition to mastic, mastic oil
is also produced. = Imitations and substitutes=
The rarity of mastic and the difficulty of its production make it expensive. As
a result, imitations in the form of other resins appear in the market, sold
as "mastic," such as Boswellia or gum arabic. Other trees, such as Pistacia
palaestina, can also produce a resin similar to mastic. Yet other substances,
such as pine tree resin and almond tree resin, are sometimes used in place of
mastic. Medicinal use
Mastic has been used as a medicine since antiquity and is still used in
traditional folk medicine of the Middle East. In ancient Greece, it was given as
a remedy for snakebite, and, in India and Persia, it was used to fill dental
cavities. The first-century Greek physician Pedanius Dioscorides mentions
the healing properties of mastic in his book De Materia Medica. Hippocrates
wrote that the mastic is good for prevention of digestive problems and
colds, and Galenus suggested that mastic was useful for bronchitis and for
improving the condition of the blood. In medieval times, mastic was highly valued
by sultans' harems as a breath freshener and a tooth whitener.
Mastic contains antioxidants and also has antibacterial and antifungal
properties. A Nottingham University study published in the New England
Journal of Medicine claims that mastic can cure peptic ulcers by killing
Helicobacter pylori bacteria. Other studies have indicated that mastic has
only a modest ability to eliminate H. pylori but have also suggested that
refining mastic by removing the polymer poly-β-myrcene may make the active
components, particularly isomasticadienolic acid, more available
and effective. Mastic may also have some value in preventing tooth decay and
gingivitis as chewing mastic reduces oral bacteria.
One study found that high consumption of Chios mastic powder results in decreased
levels of total serum cholesterol, LDL, total cholesterol/HDL ratio,
lipoprotein, apolipoprotein A-1, apolipoprotein B, ALT, AST, and GGT.
Mastic oil is widely used in the preparation of ointments for skin
disorders and afflictions. In the past, it was also used in the manufacture of
adhesive bandages. Use in food
One of the earliest uses of mastic was as chewing gum; hence, the name.
Mastic-flavored chewing gum is sold in Lebanon, Turkey, and Greece. Mastic is
used in ice cream, sauces, and seasoning in Lebanon. In Egypt, mastic is used in
vegetable preserves, in jams that have a gummy consistency, in soups, and in the
preparation of meats. In Morocco, mastic is used in the preparation of smoked
foods. In Turkey, mastic is widely used in
desserts such as Turkish delight and dondurma; in puddings such as sütlaç,
salep, and tavuk göğsü mamelika, and in soft drinks. It is also in Turkish
coffee on the Aegean coast. In the Maghreb countries, mastic is used
mainly for cakes, sweets, and pastries and as a stabilizer in meringue and
nougat. In Greece, mastic is used in mastic
liqueurs such as Mastichato; in a spoon sweet known as "ypovríchio"; in
beverages, chewing gum, sweets, desserts, and breads; and in cheese. It
is also used to stabilise Turkish delight, and mastic-gum ice cream. In
desserts, as an ingredient of jam or cakes, mastic replaces cornstarch and
gelatin. Other uses
Mastic is used in some varnishes. Mastic varnish was used to protect and preserve
photographic negatives. Mastic is also used in perfumes, cosmetics, soap, body
oils, and body lotion. In ancient Egypt, mastic was used in embalming. In its
hardened form, mastic can be used, like frankincense or Boswellia resin, to
produce incense. History
During the Ottoman rule of Chios, mastic was worth its weight in gold. The
penalty for stealing mastic was execution by order of the sultan. In the
Chios Massacre of 1822, the people of the Mastichochoria region were spared by
the sultan to provide mastic to him and his harem. Sakız Adası, the Turkish name
for the island of Chios, means "island of gum". The production of mastic was
threatened by the Chios forest fire that destroyed some mastic groves in August
2012. In religion
Some scholars identify the bakha mentioned in the Bible with the mastic
plant. Bakha appears to be derived from the Hebrew word for weeping, and is
thought to refer to the "tears" of resin secreted by the mastic plant.
Ancient Jewish halachic sources indicate mastiha/mastic a treatment for bad
breath: "Mastic is not chewed on shabbat. When [is it not permissible to
chew mastic on shabbat]? When the intention is medicinal. If it is used
for bad breath, it is permissible." Mastic is an essential ingredient of
chrism, the holy oil used for anointing by the Orthodox Churches.
References External links
Mastic on chios.gr Mastic article from masticulture.com
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