Pistacia lentiscus

Chios Mastic | Chios | Year-round

The Chios Mastic Museum reveals how cultivation of the Pistacia lentiscus chia tree has shaped the island's economy, architecture and customs while also showcasing its different uses. Unique to Chios, the tree is the source of gum mastic, a key source of wealth for the island since Byzantine times, when the trees were owned exclusively by the emperor.

Mastic products now in Dubai

Mastic, or masticha (Pistacia lentiscus), the “gold of Chios”, the eastern Aegean island, has found a new home in high-flying Dubai.

Local entrepreneur Mansoor Al Bastaki is the owner of a Mastihashop outlet and cafe in the UAE emirate, which since February offers a range of skincare products and confectionery featuring the iconic ingredient.