You can chew it
You can drink it
You can eat it
You can smell it
You can apply it on your skin & hair
What is it?
Some people call it ‘’tear drops’’ of Chios island. Its broadly known name though is ‘’mastic’’ (‘’mastiha’’ in Greek). You must be wondering what is so important and unique about this product. Well, it is raisin obtained from the mastic tree ‘’schinos’’.
Based on urban legends, many people have tried to plant this tree on other lands. The tree grew but did not ‘’cry’’. Therefore, Greeks and especially the people of Chios island are very proud of it. It is a sweet liqueur that is typically consumed at the end of a meal, always served cold. It has a unique and distinct flavor, reminiscent of pine and herbs.
Mastic is believed to have medicinal properties and to aid digestion. This is why people were consuming it from antiquity but in the form of a chewing gum. Still, homeopathic doctors (alternative medicine) use it very often since:
If you wanna read more about its properties, click here and if you wanna taste more join our Athens Food Tour!