{"product_id":"chios-mastic-chios-mastiha-tears-natural-mastic-resin-25g-medium-tears-hand-harvested-unflavored","title":"Chios Mastic Chios Mastiha Tears Natural Mastic Resin 25g Medium Tears — Hand‑harvested, Unflavored","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChios Mastiha Tears are the natural, hand-harvested resin tears from the mastic trees of Chios—ready to chew, grind, or cook with.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHarvested 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat do I get in this 25 g pack and how is it made?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e25 g of natural mastiha tears—medium size, untreated and unflavored\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eHand-harvested from Pistacia lentiscus var. chia by local cultivators\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eWashed and sorted piece by piece to preserve purity\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIvory tones that gradually yellow with age due to oxidation\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow should I store and care for these mastiha tears?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMastic 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eKeep sealed in an airtight container to preserve aroma\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eIf pieces stick together, chill in the freezer for a few hours then break apart\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAvoid prolonged heat exposure; soft pieces can be re-hardened repeatedly\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eProperly stored, mastiha maintains its properties over time\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eHow can I use Chios mastiha in everyday life?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eChios 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eChew whole tears as a natural chewing gum alternative\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eGrind into powder with a mortar and pestle for cooking or baking\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAdd to syrups, pastries, or spice blends for unique flavoring\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eUse small quantities—its aroma is distinctive and concentrated\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWill the texture or color change over time and does that affect quality?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYes—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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eYellowing is a normal oxidation effect, not spoilage\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eHigh heat can temporarily soften or make pieces merge; chill to restore\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eFreeze briefly to break larger blocks into smaller pieces\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003eAir-tight, cool storage slows both hardening and color shift\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eWho 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.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"product-faq-snippet\"\u003e\u003ch3\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-q\"\u003eQ: Can I chew Chios mastiha like gum?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-a\"\u003eA: Yes — chew whole mastiha tears like natural gum; the initial bitterness fades into a distinctive aromatic taste.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"faq-item\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-q\"\u003eQ: What if the mastiha sticks together during shipping?\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"faq-a\"\u003eA: Place the pack in a cool area or freeze briefly, then break apart; repeated cooling and warming is reversible.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003c\/section\u003e","brand":"Chios Mastic","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46007979999315,"sku":"B089MCWFDS","price":63.29,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0732\/9949\/2947\/files\/chios-mastic-front-packaging.jpg?v=1787276362","url":"https:\/\/spicestosnacks.ca\/products\/chios-mastic-chios-mastiha-tears-natural-mastic-resin-25g-medium-tears-hand-harvested-unflavored","provider":"Spices To Snacks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}