MASTIHA GUM
Regular price $65.00Olfactive Experience
Sweet and balsamic, notes of green pine and vanilla
Feel
Grounded, singular, flowing
The mastic, schinos, or lentisk tree, can be found growing wild throughout the Mediterranean, but it only exudes an ambrosial balsam in the form of “tears” on a single Greek island. Each Mastiha tear is deliciously redolent with the aroma of sweet sap, a balsamic green pine note, and decadent vanilla. It has been praised as a luxury for its sophisticated flavor and aroma since Hellenistic times (~300 BCE). When placed on enkindled charcoal, Mastiha emanates a fragrant smoke that evokes a budding tree varnished in a pale chartreuse, shot through with the intrigue of sweet pine and pollen.
This slow-growing tree offers a fragrant cultivation in the final days of summer each year, surviving drought conditions by sustaining itself on minimal morning dew. The Mastiha harvest takes place each year at the end of summer, and great care is required to obtain its precious resin. Small incisions are made in the bark of the tree, giving way to crystal clear “tears” that harden with contact to air. Provided there is no rainfall, these exquisite drops are collected, sorted for clarity and quality, and cleaned piece by piece – a task traditionally entrusted to women. The particular characteristics of the island’s soil and micro-climate, coupled with the ancient practices of cultivation and harvesting, conspire to make this unique gum resin available for our enjoyment in full flavor and aroma. All resin-bearing trees are direct descendants of the ancient trees that produced this same resin millennia ago.
Delivering a sophisticated and unique flavor that subtly suggests pine and licorice, Mastiha resin is commonly used in Greek cuisine and beverages. It has been traditionally chewed in its raw form as a gum to improve oral health, clean the teeth, and perfume the breath. It is also used in balms and other skin care preparations. We recommend storing this resin in the refrigerator for prolonged freshness.
Bio Alchemy Olfactive offers the highest quality raw oleo resin that has been granted protection by the European Union with designations such as Protected Designation of Origin (PDO) and Protected Geographical Indication (PGI).
Shop our rare Mastiha essential oil distilled from this resin here.
35 g
Savor Mastiha.
Use a mortar and pestle to grind the resin to be used to flavor sweet or savory dishes. Powdered Mastiha is usually added in small amounts, a little goes a long way.
Pieces of Mastiha resin can be chewed in its raw form as a gum to improve oral health, clean the teeth, and perfume the breath.
Burn Mastiha.
Carefully ignite clean burning charcoal over a hot flame using a heat-resistant utensil until the corners and edges of the briquette glow red. Place the charcoal inside an incense burner and top it with a small piece of Mastiha resin.
A collaboration with nature
We believe in fostering curiosity and reverence for nature’s biodiversity, employing a scientific and holistic approach to our creations that inspires a reconnection with our most primordial sense and elicits a shift in consciousness.
Nature is our ultimate guide
With profound admiration for botanical species native to climate zones across the world, we strive to spread awareness about the need to conserve the beautiful lands that allow these plants to thrive while giving back to local and indigenous communities that have cultivated them for centuries.
Conscious sourcing
To ensure efficacy and an experience of the highest quality Bio Alchemy Olfactive travels the world to source each botanical ingredient and offering, working closely with farmers, ethnobotanists, harvesters, distillers, and surrounding communities.
Traceability and sustainability are integral to our work. The botanical materials that make up our collection are sourced with an eye towards sustainable growth practices, mindful cultivation and extraction, and reverence for the cultural traditions that have dictated their use for centuries.
All products are formulated in Bio Alchemy Olfactive’s private lab with exclusively sourced ingredients. Each bottle is hand poured, labeled and packaged. Our packaging, from shipping boxes, water activated tape, and protective wrap to shipping labels are plastic free and made from 100% post consumer waste with recycled ink, making them fully recyclable and naturally biodegradable. No forests are damaged in production.
Products packaged in glass vials are intended for reuse and are tied with hand spun natural Peruvian alpaca twine from the women of a small community with whom we work.
We prioritize eco-friendly and responsibly sourced packaging materials in effort to keep our carbon footprint as small as possible.