About Us

Mastic (Greek: Μαστίχα) is a resin obtained from the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus).
During the Ottoman rule of Chios, mastic was worth its weight in gold. The punishment for stealing mastic was execution by order of the sultan.
Harvesting involves “wounding” the trunk of the tree, which grows slowly, with a surgical incision (known as kentima) that allows the resin to slowly emerge as a teardrop that carries the beauty of all nature concentrated in a single scent.
In addition, mastic trees (pistacia lentiscus) are quite difficult to grow, and the resin is labor intensive to collect and process. Cleaning 20-30 kilos of mastic can take three months, as the entire process is done by hand, crystal by crystal, with tweezers.

Mastic has been harvested for at least 2,500 years, since Greek antiquity. Hippocrates was the first to mention real mastic tears. Hippocrates used mastic to prevent digestive problems, colds and as a breath freshener.

Mastic resin production is a year-long process for local growers. Harvesting is known as kentos and takes place from early July to early October. First, the area around the trees is cleared and sprinkled with inert calcium carbonate. Then, every 4-5 days, 5-10 incisions are made in the bark of each tree to release the resin. These clear drops hanging from the tree and sparkling in the sunlight are said to resemble crystal teardrops; for this reason, mastic resin is known as the “tears of Chios”. It takes about 15-20 days for the first resin crystals to harden and fall to the ground. Farmers then collect the dry mastic pieces, wash them in natural spring water and spend most of the winter separating the tears from the sand and cleaning them. This cleaning process is done manually and is regulated by the legal framework of the Mastic Growers Association. Mastic oil is also produced in addition to mastic.