Mastic

Appears in
The Foods of Greece

By Aglaia Kremezi

Published 1993

  • About

The fragrant resin is gathered from the “mastic tree,” as locals call the Pistacia lentiscus bush, which grows only on the southern part of the island of Chios. Mastic has been much appreciated since antiquity. Today it is used to flavor breads, sweets, drinks, and ice creams, and also made into a natural chewing gum. In fact, the Greek word for chewing gum is masticha.