Petite Vial | MASTIHA GUM
Regular price $15.00Olfactive Experience
Sweet and balsamic, notes of green pine and vanilla
Feel
Grounded, singular, flowing
A vial of Mastiha Gum accompanied by a vial of Japanese bamboo charcoal provides an introduction to this botanical species of Pistacia lentiscus for culinary preparations or burned on charcoal as natural incense. Cultivate familiarity with the ritual pleasures of aromatic smoke and ceremony. Vials can be washed and reused along with their cork stoppers.
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. 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.
Mastiha has been praised as a luxury for its sophisticated flavor and aroma since Hellenistic times (~300 BCE). 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.
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 full size Mastiha Gum here.
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.