Chios Mastic Chios Mastiha Tears Natural Mastic Resin 25g Medium Tears — Hand‑harvested, Unflavored

Chios Mastiha Tears are the natural, hand-harvested resin tears from the mastic trees of Chios—ready to chew, grind, or cook with.

Harvested exclusively on the island of Chios, this 25 g pack contains medium-sized, natural mastiha tears cleaned by local cultivators. The resin starts as a sticky sap after small cuts to the tree, hardens in sunny summer weather into crystal-like tears, and is sorted and washed by growers before packaging. Ivory at first, the pieces slowly yellow with time due to oxidation; their initial slight bitterness quickly gives way to a unique aromatic taste that distinguishes true Chios mastiha.

What do I get in this 25 g pack and how is it made?

This single pack contains 25 grams of medium-sized Chios mastiha tears gathered by certified mastic growers on Chios Island. Each piece is hand-cleaned and sorted after solidification in the summer heat.

• 25 g of natural mastiha tears—medium size, untreated and unflavored
• Hand-harvested from Pistacia lentiscus var. chia by local cultivators
• Washed and sorted piece by piece to preserve purity
• Ivory tones that gradually yellow with age due to oxidation

How should I store and care for these mastiha tears?

Mastic is temperature sensitive: warm conditions make it soft and sticky, while cool environments keep it firm. Store your pack in a cool, airtight place—ideally below 18 °C (64 °F) or in a refrigerator—to slow oxidation and maintain texture.

• Keep sealed in an airtight container to preserve aroma
• If pieces stick together, chill in the freezer for a few hours then break apart
• Avoid prolonged heat exposure; soft pieces can be re-hardened repeatedly
• Properly stored, mastiha maintains its properties over time

How can I use Chios mastiha in everyday life?

Chios mastiha is versatile: chew it like gum for a lasting aromatic experience, grind it into powder for culinary uses, or add a pinch to sweet and savory recipes for a subtle resinous note. It can also be experimented with in home-made confections and baking.

• Chew whole tears as a natural chewing gum alternative
• Grind into powder with a mortar and pestle for cooking or baking
• Add to syrups, pastries, or spice blends for unique flavoring
• Use small quantities—its aroma is distinctive and concentrated

Will the texture or color change over time and does that affect quality?

Yes—over months mastiha becomes firmer and shifts from ivory toward yellow due to oxidation; this is a natural process and does not mean the product has spoiled. Temperature cycles between warm and cool states are reversible and will not degrade the resin’s core characteristics when stored correctly.

• Yellowing is a normal oxidation effect, not spoilage
• High heat can temporarily soften or make pieces merge; chill to restore
• Freeze briefly to break larger blocks into smaller pieces
• Air-tight, cool storage slows both hardening and color shift

Who is this for? This 25 g pack of medium Chios mastiha tears is ideal for food enthusiasts, artisan bakers, cooks exploring Mediterranean flavors, and anyone seeking an authentic, single-origin natural resin to chew or use in recipes. It also suits collectors of traditional ingredients and people who prefer minimally processed, hand-harvested products from a protected regional specialty.