What is Greek mastika?
What is Greek mastika?
Mastiha, or mastic, is a crystal, resinous spice and natural chewing gum that hails exclusively from Chios, where it has been produced since antiquity and long known for its medicinal value. It is definitely Greece’s most exotic spice. To use it, you need a mortar and pestle.
What tree does mastic come from?
Pistacia lentiscus
The mastic, or lentisc, tree, Pistacia lentiscus, is an evergreen tree or shrub of the sumac family (Anacardiaceae). The plant is indigenous to the Mediterranean coastal region from Syria to Spain, and particularly the Greek archipelago, but grows also in Portugal, Morocco, and the Canary Islands.
What is Mastiha liqueur made from?
Mastiha is a sweet, clear liqueur made from the aromatic resin of the mastic tree. And though mastic trees flourish all over the Mediterranean, only the variety in the unique microclimate of Chios’s southern area produces the valuable aromatic sap from which the liqueur is made.
How do you drink Mastika?
Best Way to Drink Mastika Mastika liqueur is usually drunk at the end of a meal. It is enjoyed cold and neat. It is thought that mastika aids in digestion. Mastika is a sweet liqueur that has a flavor resembling herbs and pine.
Can you swallow mastic gum?
You can chew the gum or swallow mastic in supplement form.
What are the side effects of mastic gum?
Mastic gum is generally well tolerated. In some cases, it may cause headache, upset stomach, and dizziness. In order to minimize side effects, start with the lowest possible dose and gradually work your way up to the full dose.
Do mastic trees have invasive roots?
Pistacia lentiscus is a Mediterranean native that grows into a large shrub or small tree to 25 feet. Mastic trees can become invasive in irrigated areas.
What kind of tree does mastic come from?
Mastic is the resin from the Schinias region tree, a member of the tree family which also includes Pistachio and Terebinth trees.
What kind of tree does Chios Mastiha come from?
«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).
What kind of resin does mastic come from?
What is Mastic? Mastic is the resin from the Schinias region tree, a member of the tree family which also includes Pistachio and Terebinth trees. Resin is the hard crystal shaped tree drops from various Flion trees. The most well known resin is frankincense and myrrh, gifts the three wise men gave to humanity, along with gold.
Where can you find mastic in the Mediterranean?
Though the Schinias trees can be found throughout the Mediterranean, it is only in the south of Chios that Mastic is produced. This is attributed to the region’s microclimate, of the selective and systematic cultivation which led to a new type of Schinias tree which is more durable and productive.