Mastic Gum

What Is Mastic?

Mastic (Chios mastic, Pistacia lentiscus var. chia) is a natural product obtained by sun-drying, drop by drop, the resin that seeps from cuts made in the trunk of a tree native to the Greek island of Chios.

It has a sweet, slightly piney, resinous aroma; it is used both as a direct chewing gum and ground to flavor desserts and drinks.

Nutritional Value of Mastic

Since mastic is more a natural resin/flavoring agent than a standard food in the food category, a detailed nutrition value table based on a reliable public source could not be verified to this encyclopedia's standard; this section has been intentionally left blank. Since the amount used in a recipe (a drop or two, or a few pieces) is extremely small, its nutritional contribution is practically negligible; its purpose of use is entirely flavor and texture (it gives ice cream its characteristic elastic-chewy consistency).

What Are the Benefits of Mastic?

Mastic has been used for centuries in Mediterranean tradition both as a chewing gum and to support digestion; current research on its plant compounds is ongoing, but these findings have not yet turned into a definitive health recommendation.

This information is general; mastic is a food/flavoring agent and is not a substitute for medical treatment.

How Is Mastic Selected?

Quality mastic drops should be transparent-yellowish in color, brittle but not sticky; cloudy, very dark-colored, or damp mastic should be avoided.

• The drops should look transparent and glassy; cloudiness may indicate lower quality.
• When held, it should have a slightly sticky but non-flowing texture.
• It is recommended to buy from reliable sources with stated origin (Chios island).

How Is Mastic Stored?

Mastic can be kept for a long time without spoiling in a closed jar in a cool, dark place. Since it can soften and stick together in hot conditions, it should ideally be kept in a cool cupboard.

Using Mastic in the Kitchen

Mastic is used in ice cream (especially 'dövme dondurma', pounded ice cream), milk pudding, rice pudding, some pastries and cookies, and mastic-flavored coffee. It is usually ground and mixed with a small amount of sugar or starch to form a powder.

How Is Mastic Used in Pounded Ice Cream?

Ground mastic added to the ice cream mixture creates the ice cream's characteristic elastic, stretchy texture; this is why 'dövme dondurma' is prepared by pounding it for a long time with a special mallet.

Which Recipes Use Mastic?

Pounded ice cream, mastic-flavored milk pudding, mastic-flavored rice pudding, mastic pastry, and mastic coffee are the best-known uses.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mastic good for?

Mastic has traditionally been chewed for digestive comfort and fresh breath; it is a food/flavoring agent and carries no claim to cure any disease.

How is mastic turned into powder?

Mastic drops are pounded in a mortar with a small amount of powdered sugar or starch to prevent sticking, turning them into a fine powder.

Where does mastic come from?

Mastic is obtained by sun-drying the resin that seeps from cuts made in the trunk of a tree native to the Greek island of Chios; it is a product with a protected geographical indication.

Is mastic the same as chewing gum?

Natural mastic can be considered the ancestor of today's synthetic chewing gums; it can still be chewed directly, and is also used in the kitchen as a flavoring agent.

Why does mastic give ice cream an elastic texture?

The resin compounds in mastic bind the ice cream mixture together during pounding, reducing ice crystal formation and creating the characteristic stretchy, chewy texture.