Description
The Mastic of Chios (Pistacia Lentiscus) is a resinous sap produced from the trunk and branches of the skinos, an evergreen shrub that can grow up to 2-3 meters and thrives exclusively on the island of Chios. The mastic sap is extracted by scratching the surface of the tree with a sharp implement. The Mastic of Chios or “tears of the mastic tree” is renown for its distinctive scent and flavor as well as its therapeutic properties. Since 1997, the Chios Mastiha (mastic gum) has been registered as a Product of Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) in the European Union. Moreover, it has been granted an official approval as a natural remedy by the European Medicines Agency (E.M.A.). A lot of ancient Greek physicians, such as Hippocrates, Dioscurides and Galenus referred to the healing properties of the Chios Mastic.
