Chios
Mastiha is a unique product with many beneficial qualities
and wide - ranging uses since antiquity. Nowadays, it
is used in pharmaceuticals, perfumes, cosmetics, beverages,
bakery goods, sweets as well as in cooking.
Chios
Mastiha is the natural resin of pistacia lentiscus var. Chia,
a tree which grows only on the Aegean island of Chios,
Greece. Scientific research shows that Chios Mastiha has anti-
microbial, anti-inflammatory, and healing activity. Also, it
has beneficial effects on both body hygiene and skin care.
Chios
Mastiha is the natural resin that is excreted from the trunk
and branches of the plant "schinos" - the Greek name for
the mastiha tree. By incising the bark with a sharp pointed
instrument, mastiha appears in the incision in the form of
tears and exudes in droplets onto the soil. While it is
flowing, it is a gummy, transparent liquid, but in 15 days it
solidifies in irregular shapes.This product is unique in the
world, because mastiha-yielding trees flourish only in a
specific region of the island, the so-called Mastiha
villages.Chios Mastiha has been identified as PDO (Protected
Dsignation of Origin) in order to protect its unique place of
origin. It is used in cooking, confectionery, beverage making,
pharmaceutics and cosmetology. Its numerous beneficial
properties for the human body makes it invaluable. Producer's
Story - Chios Mastiha Growers Association The
Chios Mastiha Growers Association was founded in 1938. It is a
compulsory agricultural cooperative which means that it has the sole
responsibility for the management of the natural Chios mastiha in
both Greece and abroad. It has 4,850 members and engages in the
production, packaging and merchandising of the natural Chios
mastiha, mastiha oil, mastiha water, mastiha powder and ELMA
chewing gum. The vision and goal of the Association, is to offer
contemporary consumers worldwide, the opportunity to taste the unique
and outstanding flavour and aroma of mastiha products and also
to get acquainted with its excellent healing properties.
Mastiha is
traditionally used as a mean to relieve stomach problems. A
recent study published in the New England Journal of
Medicine, supports that mastiha contributes to a healthy
gastrointestinal system. Inouline is a plant fiber from
chicory roots and helps the development of beneficial
intestinal bacteria (bifidus).
Handpicked,
pure mastic
No
preservatives – No color – No additives
Natural
Product
THIS
YEAR’S CROP.
Mastic
is a 100% natural product. That means that NOT all the
pieces of mastic (or tears as they are called) are the same.
Some pieces are bigger, some are smaller, some are harder and some
are softer.
How
to use Mastiha
You
may take a few crystals and chew them, they will become
gummy and freshen your breath. In fact, the word mastiha in
Greek means chewing gum.
For
cooking, many consider it a spice and you can use ground
mastiha (or even the whole crystals) and add it to
your food preparation. Some
ideas: add to bread, cookies, jams, cake, meatballs, shrimp.
You only need small amounts, just a few crystals. When you
grind the mastiha crystals, preferably in a mortar, make
sure you grind it with salt or sugar to avoid having
the powder stick together.
You
can use mastic as ordinary chewing gum, or you can ground it
into powder (or at least in very small pieces) and use it as
a natural medicine for peptic ulcers and general for stomach
disorders.
For
gastrointestinal problems
In a bottle of 1/2 liter of water,
add 2-3 medium pieces of mastic. We leave them all night
and the next day, we drink until the water is over. The pieces of
mastic can be chewed during the day. This mastic is very
beneficial to the stomach and to the intestine.
Recipe for stomach ulcer
Drink
every morning 1/2 teaspoon of mastic powder with 1/2 glass of
water for 2 months or more if necessary
To
use it, you need a mortar and pestle.
Do
not pound mastiha in a spice grinder or food processor because its
gummy, sticky nature will ruin the blades!
Also
we have 100% pure natural mastic ground in powder,
without
additives, without chemicals.
The
natural gum mastic is ground by us, using
only top quality natural mastic without any addition of
other substances. For ease of use and safety we put the
ground Chios gum mastic in plastic jars.Mastic
powder should be kept in cool place, below 18 C (64 F)
or, in the refrigerator. During summer time the heat
in Greece (and possibly in your country) may reach very
high temperatures. As a result, because our grounded mastic is
100% mastic without any additives, it may stick together. In this
case please put it for a few hours in the deep freezer and then
tap it (while in the jar) on a hard surface, so it will become
powder again.
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