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32-484: This area is well known for the production of mastic , from which it derives its name. Mastic is the hardened resin of the mastic tree and is only harvested on Chios, being a major part of the local economy. In the village of Pyrgi, there is even a small Museum of Mastic. Within the European Union, Chios mastika , a mastic-flavoured liqueur has a protected designation of origin . The island's mastic production

64-568: A "well-established use" designation for mastic resin. These studies primarily investigated its oral (as a sole agent) and cutaneous applications (in combination with other products). Despite these shortcomings, the EMA found that these studies did not raise any significant safety concerns, thus supporting the traditional use of mastic. The assessment highlighted that mastic has been part of traditional and folk medicine for more than 30 years in several countries such as Iraq , Turkey , Japan , South Korea ,

96-505: A permanent exhibition about mastic production on the island, explaining its history and cultivation techniques as well as demonstrating its different uses today. Traditionally there has also been limited production of mastic on the Çeşme peninsula, on the Turkish coast eight nautical miles from Chios, with similar ecological conditions suitable for mastic production. The Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion, for Reforestation and

128-414: A range of gastrointestinal disorders . During 15th century, Andrés Laguna , a prominent Spanish physician and botanist, utilized mastic gum to treat pyorrhea and advocated its use in dental care formulations, including infusions and concoctions for toothpaste and breath fresheners . He also recommended the use of the tree's twigs as toothpicks . Beyond its oral health applications, mastic gum

160-453: A stabilizer in meringue and nougat . In Morocco, mastic is used in the preparation of smoked foods. One of the earliest uses of mastic was as chewing gum . Mastic (מסטיק) is the colloquial Hebrew word for chewing gum. Some scholars identify the bakha mentioned in the Bible with the mastic plant. Bakha appears to be derived from Hebrew : בכא , weeping, and is thought to refer to

192-501: Is a liqueur flavoured with mastic distillate or mastic oil from the island of Chios . The name Chios Mastiha has protected designation of origin status in the European Union . Chios Mastiha liqueur is clear with a sweet aroma. It is traditionally served cold. The process is regulated by Greek law and includes the flavouring of alcohol with mastic oil by agitation or the distillation of mastic with alcohol. The solution

224-427: Is a resin obtained from the mastic tree ( Pistacia lentiscus ). It is also known as tears of Chios , being traditionally produced on the island Chios , and, like other natural resins , is produced in "tears" or droplets. Mastic is excreted by the resin glands of certain trees and dries into pieces of brittle, translucent resin. When chewed, the resin softens and becomes a bright white and opaque gum. The flavor

256-454: Is a sweet liqueur produced with the mastika resin from the Greek island of Chios , which is distilled after hardening to crystals. Sugar is typically added. It is a sweet liqueur that is typically consumed at the end of a meal. It has a distinctive flavor, reminiscent of pine and herbs. It is claimed to have medicinal properties and to aid digestion. In August of 2012, wildfires spread across

288-535: Is added to Turkish coffee on the Aegean coast. In Greece, mastic is used in liqueurs such as Mastika (or Mastichato), in a spoon sweet known as a "submarine" ( Greek : υποβρύχιο , romanized :  ypovríchio ), in beverages, chewing gum, sweets, desserts, breads and cheese. It is also used to stabilise loukoumi and ice cream. In the Maghreb , mastic is used mainly in cakes, sweets, and pastries and as

320-431: Is bitter at first, but after some chewing, it releases a refreshing flavor similar to pine and cedar. Chios mastic gum has been used as a traditional medicine over the last 2,500 years. The word mastic is derived indirectly from Ancient Greek : μαστίχη , lit.   'mastic', which may be related to Ancient Greek: μασᾶσθοι , lit.   'chew'. The first mention of actual mastic 'tears'

352-584: Is controlled by a co-operative of medieval villages. The local producers are united under the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association. Founded in 1938, the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association ( Greek : Ένωση Μαστιχοπαραγωγών Χίου ), abbreviated CGMGA , is a cooperative organisation and acts as the collective representative organ of twenty primary cooperatives totalling nearly 5000 members in

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384-482: Is controlled by a co-operative. Founded in 1938, the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association ( Greek : Ένωση Μαστιχοπαραγωγών Χίου ), abbreviated CGMGA , is a secondary cooperative organisation and acts as the collective representative organ of twenty primary cooperatives founded in the twenty-four mastic villages. it has the exclusive management of natural Chios Mastiha in Greece and abroad. The Chios Mastic Museum offers

416-530: Is performed by hand and is regulated by the legislative framework of the Mastic Growers' Association. In addition to mastic, mastic oil is also produced. As of 2024 there are twenty-four mastichochoria, or mastic villages, on the island of Chios dedicated to the cultivation and production of mastic. The designation "Masticha Chiou" ("Khios mastic") is protected by a European Union protected designation of origin (PDO). The island's mastic production

448-475: Is then diluted with water and sweetened with sugar. The final alcoholic strength by volume of Chios Mastiha must be at least 15%. The only flavouring agents used in Chios Mastiha liqueur are an alcoholic distillate of mastic or mastic oil made from Chios mastic. Mastic is the hardened sap harvested from the mastic tree, Pistacia lentiscus var chia , a small evergreen shrub that grows on rocky terrain on

480-606: The Chios Massacre of 1822, during the Ottoman rule of Chios, the people of Mastichochoria were spared as their survival was the foundation of the island's continued prosperity (and the tax proceeds it remitted to Constantinople). . In 2012 the Mastichochoria and its trees were threatened by a wildfire that broke out in the southern part of the island. Mastic (plant resin) Mastic ( Greek : Μαστίχα )

512-601: The Izmir Institute of Technology . In the Eastern Mediterranean , mastic is commonly used in brioches , ice cream, and other desserts. In Syria and Palestine , mastic is added to booza ( Levantine ice cream), and in Turkey, mastic is widely used in desserts such as Turkish delight and dondurma , in puddings such as sütlaç , salep , tavuk göğsü , mamelika , and in soft drinks. Mastic syrup

544-496: The USA , and particularly, within the European Union, in Greece. Considering this long-standing use, the EMA deemed the requirements for traditional medicinal products according to Directive 2001/83/EC to be fulfilled for the medicinal use of powdered mastic. The EMA reports also note the antimicrobial activity of mastic in non-clinical in vitro studies and its particular effectiveness against Helicobacter pylori . Based on these findings,

576-616: The "tears" of resin secreted by the mastic plant. Ancient Jewish halachic sources indicate mastic as a treatment for bad breath: "Mastic is not chewed on Shabbat . When [is it forbidden 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 Eastern Orthodox Churches . Ancient Greek physicians such as Hippocrates , Dioscorides , Galenus , and Theophrastus recommended it for

608-833: The Director of the Agricultural Service, the technical supervisor of the ATE bank and the Commissioner of NCGAC. The other six board positions are elected. On 11 June 2016, the Chios Mastic Museum opened its doors in Rachi, on the southern part of Chios in the region of the Mastichochoria. It offers a permanent exhibition about mastiha production on the island, explaining its history and cultivation techniques as well as demonstrating its different uses today. In

640-477: The EMA approved the use of powdered mastic as a traditional herbal medicinal product for two indications: The agency stipulated that due to the lack of sufficient data, the use of mastic in children , during pregnancy , and lactation is not recommended. 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

672-471: The Protection of Natural Habitats (TEMA) has led an effort to protect the native Turkish mastic trees and to plant new ones in the Çeşme peninsula to revive viable commercial production of the product. As part of this project, which was expected to last through 2016, over 3,000 mastic tree saplings were planted between 2008 and October 2011 to over 368 acres (149 hectares) of dedicated farm land provided by

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704-464: The first Greek woman in history to start a liquor brand, Effie Panagopoulos. It is the only double distilled, small batch, low in sugar mastiha on the market. Mastic has been harvested for at least 2,500 years since Greek antiquity. The first mention of actual mastic 'tears' was by Hippocrates . Hippocrates used mastic for the prevention of digestive problems, colds and as a breath freshener. Roman emperors used mastic along with honey, pepper, and egg in

736-469: The island of Chios, scorching 31,480 acres (12,740 ha) and destroying more than half of the island's mastic orchards. Because the product has a " protected designation of origin " from the European Union , the fire not only impacted local Chios farmers, who lost approximately 60 percent of their crops, but also derailed the global supply of the product. Chios Mastiha Liqueur ( Greek : Μαστίχα Χίου , Greek pronunciation: [masˈtixa ˈçi.u] )

768-407: The mastic resin is a whole-year process for the local growers. The harvest is known as kentos and takes place from the beginning of July to the beginning of October. First, the area around the trees is cleared and sprinkled with inert calcium carbonate . Then, every 4–5 days, 5–10 incisions are made in the bark of each tree to release the resin. As these clear drops hang from the tree, and sparkle in

800-674: The southern part of the island. Chios mastic is certified by the Agricultural Products Certification and Supervision Organization as part of the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food . The island's mastic production is controlled by a co-operative of medieval villages, the Mastichochoria . KLEOS Mastiha Spirit is the first luxury mastiha brand from Greece launched in March 2018, by

832-408: The sunlight, they are said to resemble crystalline teardrops; for this reason, the mastic resin is known as the "tears of Chios". It takes about 15–20 days for the first resin crystals to harden and fall to the ground. The farmers then collect the pieces of dry mastic and wash them in natural spring water, and spend most of the winter cleaning and separating the tears from the sand. This cleaning process

864-586: The twenty-four villages of southern Chios. It has the exclusive management of Chios mastika in Greece and abroad. Its international equivalent in French is the Union des Producteurs de Gomme Mastic de Chios . The organisation is mainly involved with the management of the agricultural production, supporting local growers, stimulating research, and providing legal assistance. The CGMGA has a Board of Directors consists of nine members. Three members are permanent: these are

896-604: The villages were entered only by ladders), in order to protect the sap from invaders. Although the liqueur is much younger, it is still tied up with Greek history. Digestive liqueurs, similar to Mastichato (Mastika), but made with grapes, were known as Greek elixirs before the French Revolution. The production of mastic was threatened by the Chios forest fire that destroyed some mastic groves in August 2012. Producing

928-509: Was applied as a beauty enhancer for the skin and used to alleviate menstrual discomfort . It was also utilized to mask the unpleasant odors associated with chronic mercury exposure . In February 2016, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) published the final assessment of Pistacia lentiscus L. resin. The EMA concluded that the available clinical studies, though numerous, were too small and methodologically weak to support

960-664: Was by Hippocrates . Hippocrates used mastic for the prevention of digestive problems, colds and as a breath freshener. Romans used mastic along with honey, pepper, and egg in the spiced wine conditum paradoxum . Under the Byzantine Empire, the mastic trade became the Emperor's monopoly. In the Ottoman Empire, the Sultan gathered the finest mastic crop to send to his harem. During the Ottoman rule of Chios, mastic

992-498: Was used in embalming. In its hardened form, mastic can be used, like frankincense or Boswellia resin, to produce incense. Mastichato Mastika or mastiha is a liqueur seasoned with mastic , a resin with a slightly pine or cedar-like flavor gathered from the mastic tree , a small evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region. In Greece, mastiha ( Greek : μαστίχα ) or mastichato ( Greek : μαστιχάτο )

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1024-460: Was worth its weight in gold. The penalty for stealing mastic was execution by order of the sultans. 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 'gum island'. The mastic villages are fortress-like, out of sight from the sea, surrounded by high walls and with no doors at street level (meaning that

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