Chios Mastiha Tears Greek 100% Natural Mastic 20gr Medium Tears

Product Information

Producing the mastic resin is a whole-year process for the local growers. The harvest is known as kentos and takes place from the beginning of July to the beginning of 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. As these clear drops hang from the tree, and sparkle in the sunlight, they are said to resemble crystalline teardrops; for this reason, the 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. The farmers then collect the pieces of dry mastic and wash them in natural spring water, and spend most of the winter cleaning and separating the tears from the sand. This cleaning process is performed by hand and is regulated by the legislative framework of the Mastic Growers' Association. In addition to mastic, mastic oil is also produced.

Spyridopoulou K, et al. (2017). Dietary mastic oil extracted from Pistacia lentiscus var. chia suppresses tumor growth in experimental colon cancer models. DOI: There are about 20 medieval masticvillages in southern Chios and the experience of strolling within, and even between them, is magical. Particularly noteworthy are Pyrgi and Mesta, followed by Vessa, Armolia, Nenita and Patrika. The gentle, fragrant and pricey product is exclusive to Chios and has been cultivated here since the 1st century AD. It is also believed to have therapeutic properties. Tradition says that the mastic trees began crying when Agios Isidoros was tortured on Chios by the Romans. Tzani A, et al. (2016). Hypolipidemic, hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory role of Chios mastic gum in streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice with fatty liver disease. Research suggests that taking 1 g of mastic per day, divided into three doses, may soothe symptoms related to stomach ulcers. Reducing Helicobacter pylori bacteria in the stomach

Pistacia lentiscus". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 15 December 2017. In the Maghreb, mastic is used mainly in cakes, sweets, and pastries and as a stabilizer in meringue and nougat. In Morocco, mastic is used in the preparation of smoked foods. [ citation needed]

You will be surrounded by the famed mastic fields, full of the low bush with outstretched branches and a bent trunk that is related to the pistachio tree and is the symbol of Chios. The harvesting of its resin, which consists of making incisions in the tree (what the locals call Kentima or embroidery) results in mastic ‘tears’ dripping from the trunk and gathered in August. The island's mastic production is controlled by a co-operative. Founded in 1938, the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association ( Greek: Ένωση Μαστιχοπαραγωγών Χίου), abbreviated CGMGA, is a secondary cooperative organisation and acts as the collective representative organ of twenty primary cooperatives founded in the twenty-four mastic villages. [5] it has the exclusive management of natural Chios Mastiha in Greece and abroad. [6] Kartalis A, et al. (2016). Effects of Chios mastic gum on cholesterol and glucose levels of healthy volunteers: A prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled, pilot study (CHIOS-MASTIHA) [Abstract]. DOI: A related species, P. saportae, has been shown by DNA analysis [15] to be a hybrid between maternal P. lentiscus and paternal P. terebinthus (terebinth or turpentine). The hybrid has imparipinnate leaves, with leaflets semipersistent, subsessile terminal, and sometimes reduced. Usually, P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus occupy different biotopes and barely overlap: Mastic appears at lower elevations and near the sea, while the P. terebinthus most frequently inhabits inland and mountainous areas such as the Iberian System. [ citation needed] By 2015, Chios had become a transit point for refugees and asylum seekers entering the EU from Turkey. A reception and identification centre was formed at VIAL near the village of Chalkeio, however, in 2021 the Greek government announced a new closed reception centre will be built in a more isolated location at Akra Pachy near the village of Pantoukios. [47] Demographics [ edit ]

Pyrgi is one of 24 mastic-producing villages, or mastichochoria, on the Greek island of Chios. Although the mastic tree ( Pistacia lentiscus) is ubiquitous throughout the Mediterranean, the variety that weeps mastic resin grows only on the southern part of Chios—a quirk of nature that led to the island’s rich, twisting history. The gum monopolies Sporadically for some time during the early 19th century to 1950s there was mining activity on the island at Keramos Antimony Mines. Paraschos S, Magiatis P, Mitakou S, etal. (February 2007). "In vitro and in vivo activities of Chios mastic gum extracts and constituents against Helicobacter pylori". Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 51 (2): 551–9. doi: 10.1128/AAC.00642-06. PMC 1797732. PMID 17116667. Although the liqueur is much younger, it is still tied up with Greek history. Digestive liqueurs, similar to Mastichato (Mastika), but made with grapes, were known as Greek elixirs before the French Revolution.