Mastication

I ordered this gum. It supposed to be the first or one of the first "gums". It is made of mastic which is the sap from a tree found on the island of Chios, Greece. I have become addicted to the stuff. It has a very definate tree flavor to it. Like chewing on an evergreen but I can't stop....well I can because I dont have a clue where to get it except Greece or online. Anyone know where you can find mastic gum around here?

I had to contact Creation Gardens about another matter so I asked them. They said they don't carry it but would research with their suppliers and should have an answer in a day or two. Their phone is 587-9012.
Mastic has received some press recently- the NYTimes named it one of the hot new products a few weeks ago.
The only time I've had it that I know of was at a high end Greek place a few years ago- Mastic infused yogurt with a basil syrup and toasted almonds. M-m-good.

this sounds like a dirty word

I had to contact Creation Gardens about another matter so I asked them. They said they don't carry it but would research with their suppliers and should have an answer in a day or two. Their phone is 587-9012.
Mastic has received some press recently- the NYTimes named it one of the hot new products a few weeks ago.
The only time I've had it that I know of was at a high end Greek place a few years ago- Mastic infused yogurt with a basil syrup and toasted almonds. M-m-good.

Really? I first heard of it in Turkey in the late 90's. I was there and had some really strange and think ice cream that was rather good and they said that mastic was the main ingredient. Then we get to today, I was reading about Greece and saw the word mastic and read about it's history and that you can get it. So I bought some online and can't stop chewing it. I also bought it in it's true form and Im chewing it right now. It's funny that stuff has it's moments, from Sultans and Greeks fighting over it in the ancient days to becoming trendy today and seen as a "hot new product". After reading about it, it's like saying "air" the hot new product. Society has alzheimers. It's good stuff though.

this sounds like a dirty word

What word.....gum?

I know that Israelis (in Hebrew) refer to chewing gum as "mastic". I think the flavoring is what is unique. I would ask the people who used to own the Greek restaurant in town (Greek Paradise), they might know where to get it.

If you REALLY like mastic, try Uozo.... it is the Greek Liquer that will kick your
A.. from here to Kingdom come!

It is delicious, and deadly so be careful.

Also try Fage (fayeh) Greek yogurt (w/ or w/o honey) at Whole foods
and Fresh Market.

If you like Yogurt without all the garbage also, try Kafir, a drinkable yogurt.
You can add it to your smoothies!

Yum.

If you REALLY like mastic, try Uozo.... it is the Greek Liquer that will kick your
A.. from here to Kingdom come!

It is delicious, and deadly so be careful.

Also try Fage (fayeh) Greek yogurt (w/ or w/o honey) at Whole foods
and Fresh Market.

If you like Yogurt without all the garbage also, try Kafir, a drinkable yogurt.
You can add it to your smoothies!

Yum.

If I like mastic I should try ouzo? They arent much alike. I have been to Greece. I play dumb but I know a whole lot about the place. Appreciate the post though.

No problem John

But thanks for the post.

the best qualities of Mastic grow in the Greek island of Chios in the Aegean Sea, where it is also known by the name "Chios Tears". Chios's native drink, Mastichato, a smooth sweet smelling mastic liqueur and mastic-flavored OUZO, are made from "Chios Tears". In culinary uses, it can also be enjoyed in baking and in sweets such as biscuits, mastic ice cream, and mastic Sweets of the Spoon. In its refined form it is also used as the primary ingredient for toothpaste, shampoos and perfumes. People in the Mediterranean region have used mastic as a medicine for gastrointestinal ailments for several thousand years. The first century Greek physician and botanist Dioscorides wrote about the medicinal properties of mastic in his classic treatise De Materia Medica ("About Medical Substances"). Some centuries later by Markellos Empeirikos and Pavlos Eginitis[3] also noticed the effect of mastic in the digestive system.

I find it a shame that we as humans cannot chew with our fingers!
Keep chewin' john!

I watched a Globe Trekker about Greece last night and they did about 5 minutes about Chios and Mastic. There was an old woman chipping the resin off the trees and harvesting it from the ground, a selection of cosmetics etc. and a medieval town that was heavily gated to protect the important mastic crop. And now we know.

I watched a Globe Trekker about Greece last night and they did about 5 minutes about Chios and Mastic. There was an old woman chipping the resin off the trees and harvesting it from the ground, a selection of cosmetics etc. and a medieval town that was heavily gated to protect the important mastic crop. And now we know.

I watched that too. I thought it was rather good timing really.

Did they mention anything about OUZO??

They drank some along the way but we didn't see it being made.