The tear drops of Chios

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:

It has an antimicrobial action
It is a protective agent against heart diseases
It has oral hygiene actions
It offers prevention and treatment of peptic system diseases
It is used as a component of wound healing bandages and as a skin regeneration agent

If you wanna read more about its properties, click here and if you wanna taste more join our Athens Food Tour!

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