Chios Mastic Museum

In short: The Chios Mastic Museum sits among the Mastichochoria, the medieval mastic villages of southern Chios. It tells the story of how mastic is grown, harvested and processed — a tradition recognised by UNESCO.

What is Chios mastic gum?

Chios is the only place in the Mediterranean where the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia), known in Greek as “skínos”, is cultivated for its resin — mastic gum.

The Mastic Museum tells the history of mastic-tree cultivation and resin processing, set within the cultural landscape of Chios. Thanks to its traditional cultivation, mastic is inscribed on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Museum exhibitions

The permanent exhibition focuses on Chios mastic as a unique natural product:

1. The traditional know-how of growing mastic.
2. How mastic is grown and produced — plus the history of the resin and the landscape and settlements of southern Chios.
3. The use and processing of mastic in modern times, a key chapter in the island’s history.

The experience culminates in an outdoor exhibition, where visitors meet the plant itself in its natural environment.

Tools to explore the exhibition

• Multimedia
• Documents
• Models
• Original mastic-processing machines — in working condition

The «Skínos» multi-purpose hall hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events, while educational programmes are held in the smaller «Kentitíri» hall.

Address & contact

Frequently asked questions

Can’t make it to Chios just yet? Bring the island home with authentic mastic tears.