What Are Mastic Gum Crystals?

In short: Mastic gum crystals are the natural resin “tears” of the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus), produced only on the Greek island of Chios. You can chew them like a natural gum or grind them as a spice — and as a food supplement, mastic contributes to the normal function of the digestive system.

What are mastic crystals?

Mastic trees produce mastic crystals — “tears” — which dry on and under the tree, are hand-picked, and are then packed as crystals or ground into a powder used as a food supplement.

Taste and aroma

A mastic crystal has a distinctive, unmistakable aroma and taste — somewhat like herbal pine. The flavour becomes refreshing as you chew, which is why mastic has been chewed since antiquity as the original natural chewing gum.

Choose your crystal size

Mastic tears come in three sizes. It is the same authentic Chios mastic — the difference is the size of the crystals and how you’ll use them: larger tears are softer inside and best for chewing, while smaller tears are firmer and ideal for grinding as a spice.

Browse every size in the raw mastic collection.

In the kitchen

Mastic freshens the breath and is also used as a base in cosmetics and as a spice. In cooking it flavours the traditional New Year cake Vasilopita, the sweet bread tsoureki, biscuits and cakes, and is used in preserves, liqueurs, lemonades and ice cream.

Properties of mastic crystals

By long-standing traditional use, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) recognises mastic resin for mild digestive complaints and minor skin inflammation (HMPC assessment EMA/HMPC/46756/2015). As a food supplement, mastic contributes to the normal function of the digestive system.

How to use & store

• Store in a cool, dry place
• Instructions for chewing mastic
• Grinding mastic into a spice
• 100% mastic resin crystals from the island of Chios

Frequently asked questions

Taste the real thing — authentic Chios mastic crystals, straight from the island.