Mastic

Mastic is an evergreen, dense deciduous shrub that thrives throughout the Mediterranean. However, there is a special variety of mastic, known as mastic-bearing schino, from which the natural resin is extracted or commonly, mastic, which thrives only in the southern part of the island of Chios, in the well-known Mastic villages. The mastic collection takes place from mid-August to mid-September. The procedure involves tearing the trunk of the tree, the mastic is secreted in the form of tears and about 15 days later, it has been stabilized and is ready for collection. This is followed by sieving, washing and thorough cleaning, piece by piece.