The cultivation of Mastiha
The cultivation of Mastiha
The Mastiha tree
The mastiha tree, or schinos (Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia), is an evergreen shrub that grows 2–3 meters high. It takes 5 years from planting to produce its first Mastiha tears, and 40–50 years to reach its final form.
New plantations come from branches of older trees, known as cuttings, while older plantations are renewed through shoots or layering. The tree and its family are also found in other Mediterranean countries. However, for reasons that have not yet been documented, it produces its rare Mastiha exclusively in Chios.
The cultivation
The process begins in January with the pruning and care of the mastiha tree and lasts until June. At that time, the ground is cleaned and covered with white soil, which will hold the Mastiha when it drips from the tree.
In July, the “kentima” of the mastiha tree begins. The mastiha growers carve the trunk and branches of the tree with a sharp tool, allowing its tears to be released. The tears run down the trunk and are collected after 15–20 days. The entire process lasts a total of 75 days.
In September, the cleaning of Mastiha begins in the producers’ homes, through sieving, sorting and washing with natural water. The process is completed at the Chios Mastiha Growers Association, with the support of mechanical means. Finally, the Mastiha is classified into different qualities with the help of color sorters.
Mastiha appears like a tear at the carved points and flows drop by drop onto the ground. Its form is crystalline and its initial taste is rather bitter, but this soon fades, leaving behind a distinctive aroma that gives it its uniqueness.
The tradition
The cultivation and cleaning of Mastiha are processes that have remained completely unchanged through the centuries. From beginning to end, everything is done by the hands of the producers, without the use of chemicals, in an almost primitive way.
The medieval Mastiha villages, the cultivation and cleaning tools, the producers’ clothing, together with the nature of Chios, unchanged over time, offer a rare and unique product that cannot be produced anywhere else in the world.
Since 1997, Chios Mastiha has been officially designated as a Protected Designation of Origin (P.D.O.) product.
For more information, please visit:
https://gummastic.gr/el/mastixa-chiou/paradosiaki-kalliergia
