Mastic

The Aegean island of Chios is the source of most mastic, the aromatic resin of a tree in the pistachio family. It may be chewed as gum, but it has a range of other uses throughout Greece and the Middle East, where it may be found in stews, breads, jams and ice cream. It is sold in Asian groceries as hard, translucent lumps and should be pulverized in a grinder with some sugar before it can be used.