The trademark of Chios is mastic, an aromatic natural resin that flows from the trunk of the schinos, a shrub with spreading branches and dense leaves.
In the southern villages of Chios, the famous Mastichochochoria, the special and unique mastichofos schinos thrives, from which the most important product of the island, which is the basis of its economy, is extracted.
The mastic is collected only by hand. The workers tear the trunk of the tree and the resin starts to flow and once it has stabilized it is collected. It is then sieved, washed and cleaned.
Mastic has been in Greece for at least 2,500 years. References to its properties are found in Hippocrates and Dioscorides, who recommended the "tears" of mastic for the relief of digestive problems, for aromatic breath, for cleaning teeth and for fighting colds.
Chios mastic has been a product of protected origin (PDO) since 1997. Today it is used in confectionery, beverage and bakery. It is also used extensively in the medical and pharmaceutical industry and in perfumery.
English 
Greek 
German