The Science of Spice

116 Spice Profiles

The tree that produces mastic grows

only on the Greek island of Chios,

where this unique product has been

cultivated for more than 2,500 years.

The Ancient Greeks and Romans

chewed it as a breath freshener – it is

the origin of the word “masticate”.

When the Genoese took Chios from

the Venetians in 1346 ce, they

provided the islanders with protection

from pirates in return for a monopoly

over the lucrative mastic trade, which

was by then a highly sought-after

spice. In 1566, the Ottoman Turks

seized control of the island and

controlled mastic trade until Chios

became part of the Greek state in

1913. Today, the 24 remaining mastic-
      producing villages – known as
      mastichochoria – harvest and process
      the resin in the same time-honoured
      way. Chios mastic is now a product
      of Protected Designation of Origin
      (PDO) and most of it is exported to
      Turkey and the Middle East.

Region of cultivation

Mastic trees are native to the Mediterranean

and the resin is harvested exclusively on the

Greek island of Chios.

The plant

Mastic is harvested

from small evergreen

trees in the sumac

family, closely related

to pistachios.

Resin “tears”

Hard, translucent pieces are used in

cooking and called dahtilidopetres

(flintstones). Lower-grade, softer, larger

tears are called kantiles (blisters) and are

mainly used for chewing.

Grows to 2–6m

(6½–20ft) high

Inedible

berries turn

from red to

black

Colour is light ivory

at first, darkening

to golden-yellow due

to reaction with

sunlight and air

BOTANICAL NAME

Pistacia lentiscus

ALSO KNOWN AS

Arabic gum (not to be confused with gum

arabic), mastiha, lentisk.

MAJOR FLAVOUR COMPOUND

Pinene.

PARTS USED

Resin.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION

The tree’s bark is scored in late summer to

exude resin. Trees produce resin at 5 years

and can continue for 60 years.

COMMERCIAL PREPARATION

Resin gradually hardens at the base of the

tree into pear-shaped “tears”, which are

collected, cleaned, and dried.

NON-CULINARY USES

In cosmetics and perfumery; in traditional

medicine for treating wounds.

GREECE

CHIOS

TURKEY

MASTIC

Pine-like | Resinous | Woody

Spice story

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