Mastic
A pale resin from mastic trees on the Greek island of Chios, used in sweets, drinks and breads.
Also: mastiha, Chios tears, sakız, Pistacia lentiscus
Mastic is the dried sap of Pistacia lentiscus var. chia, grown on the southern part of the Greek island of Chios, where farmers cut the bark in summer and collect the hardened tears. It tastes piney, resinous and faintly of cedar, and is chewed as gum, a habit that gave rise to the word masticate. It flavours Greek Easter bread, ice cream, liqueur, Turkish delight, Middle Eastern puddings and some Arabic coffee. It is pounded with sugar or salt to stop it sticking to the mortar. Chios mastic has an EU protected designation, and the mastic villages are a UNESCO-recognised cultural landscape.