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Mastic is harvested from the mastic tree (Pistachia lentiscus var. chia), a small evergreen shrub that grows to about two to three meters on rocky terrain on the southern part of the island of Chios. This tree takes fifty years to reach maturity, and can be harvested for mastic from its fifth year onwards. Although the mastic tree can be found around the Mediterranean Sea, the variety that produces the aromatic mastic sap only grows in the southern part of Chios. Chios mastic has also been certified by the Agricultural Products Certification and Supervision Organization as part of the Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food.
Ingredients
Chios Mastiha liqueur is served cold and has a crystal clear colour and a sweet aroma. The ingredients are mastic oil and/or distillate, water, alcohol and sugar.
Examples of Chios Mastiha Ouzo (right) and Mastiha Liqueur (left)
Production
Process is regulated by Greek law and incorporates the flavouring ethyl alcohol with mastic oil by agitation or distillate of mastic gum with ethyl alcohol and subsequent dilution of the latter alcohol solution in sugar-water.The final minimal alcoholic strength by volume of Mastiha liqueur shall be no less than 15 %, as any other liqueur.
Producers and distributors
Chios
The Growers' Spirit is a producing company run by the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association (CGMGA). The CGMGA offers Mastiha liqueur made with both mastic distillate and mastic oil in two different variants: Kentos (20% alcohol) and Enosis (30% alcohol).
