On the island of Chios, you do not need to dig for gold. It grows on trees and is called Mastic. Had it for the first-time last year when Kostas, our chef, proudly served it on the AFAET as appetizer and liqueur. It tasted somewhat sweet and reminded me of fennel and anise. Some people describe the flavor as musky and earthy. Others call it the smell of pine forest. Have to admit that I was not overwhelmed and graciously bailed out after the first round.
Sorting Mastic Droplets from Leaves and Bark during the Harvest every August
Our Captain, a true native of Chios, was not impressed – his eyes betrayed his disbelieve. Captain Nikko who runs a big fishing vessel when not sailing with tourist in the Aegean in the summer months believes in Mastic – 100%. He told me that it tastes better than Pastis, has many dietary benefits and anti-inflammatory qualities. It is apparently also the perfect antioxidant. After that, Mastic was served to everybody on board - except me – the one who obviously was missing out. Yah!
Mastic can be chewed, eaten as a Gel or drunk as liqueur - there are so many ways!
I completely forgot about this episode until I wrote my last blog (F – 247) on the 300 years of Genovese rule over Chios (1261 – 1566). Researching the island’s history, I came across Mastic again. When the Ottomans massacred the island’s population during the Greek War of Independence in 1822, they exempted the inhabitants of the 20 Mastic producing villages. During Turkish times Mastic was sold at the price of Gold. The Ottoman Sultans pocketed the profits but were also big buyers for their harem (am sure at a fraction of the official price).
Mastic Trees yield their first Mastic Droplets after 7 years and easily get 100 years old
Today, the island of Chios produces about 220 tons of Mastic a year. There are more than one million Mastic trees on the island, primarily to the South. Mastic trees grow only on Chios. All efforts to plant the tree in other places failed. The tree loves Chios’ micro climate – lots of wind and sun but no rain all summer. Mastic is the raisin of the Pistacia Lentiscus tree and harvested in fall by incising 3 mm deep cuts in the bark.
Typical Incision in the Bark - not too deep so the Tree does not get hurt but starts to produce Mastic Sap to repair the Damage
Tree sap then filles these cuts and forms tear like droplets. The purer the raisin droplet the higher the price. A farmer gets about USD 100.- per kilo. In the retail market Mastic sells for USD 350 a kilo. Not the equivalent to Gold any longer - but still attractive. To put it into perspective with other whole sale prices : a kilo of coffee sells at USD 2.70, Cacao at USD 2.30, Sugar at 25 Cents and Wheat at 18 Cents. Mastic is in a league of its own. The only comparable price I could find was Frankincense which costs USD 470 /kg. To nobody's surprise, the Catholic Church is its largest customer.
A beautiful Mastic Droplet
Mastic is well known since antiquity. Its name derives from the classic Greek word for chewing – seems that Greek used it as sort of chewing gum and breath refreshener. But this is not the reason for its fame. In the centuries before modern medicine, there were few drugs that could heal ulcers and internal and external inflammation. Mastic does it. A skeptical EU put these claims to the test and confirmed its medical qualities about five years ago. Now it is official! Never mind that the father of modern medicine, Hippocrates (see blog E - 42 ), said the same more than 2’400 years ago.
There are dozens of these Products - just picked this Photo from the Internet
It’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities also make it a good skin treatment. No wonder the ladies in the harem longed for it. Humanities' quest for beauty is still the same – but today we have many more cosmetic products to choose from. In the past, there were only a few. Mastic was sought after and worth its weight in gold. How effective Mastic was in the past can also be derived from its current use – almost half of the annual production goes into cosmetics. I guess we have to buy some beauty products when in Chios next summer.
The Hills in the South of Chios are lined with Mastic Trees and are called Mastichochoria
Given its high value and Byzantium’s empty treasury, Mastic production became an Imperial Monopoly in the 5th century. You can always tax beauty products! It stayed that way during the Ottoman Empire. Anyone caught stealing the Sultan’s Mastic was punished by death.
The splendid Houses of the Mastic Farmers in Pirgy, Chios
Today, the farmers are the owners of the Mastic orchards and carefully guard their precious trees. Men do usually the field work. The women sort the harvest – and add a lot of value by removing impurities from droplets.
Found on YouTube two short videos which describe Mastic way better than I ever could. Enjoy!
Why Mastic Tree Raisin is so Expensive
Mastic Gum worked in 3 Days