A truly miraculous spice that’s been treasured for millennia, mastic gum is harvested exclusively on the Greek island of Chios.
The mastic tree, a relative of the pistachio, grows throughout the Mediterranean but it is only on the southern part of the Greek island of Chios where mastic trees can be scarred to release the tears of mastic gum. It was once valued for its cosmetic and medical benefits.
Mastic gum adds a fresh, evergreen flavor to sweet and savory dishes. We use mastic in Ras el Hanout and Thousand and One Nights spice blends.
The delicate resinous flavor of mastic gum can be used in sweets and desserts and for seasoning meat dishes. Mastic is commonly used in Greece and Turkey to flavor ice cream, desserts, Turkish delights and liqueurs. In the Middle East, this fresh tasting gum is added sparingly to meat and poultry dishes.