View source for Mastika

{{Short description|Mastic-seasoned liqueur}}
{{Infobox beverage
| name         = Chios Mastiha Liqueur
| image        = MastichatoDrink.jpg
| caption      = Chios Mastiha Ouzo (left) and Mastiha Liqueur (right)
| type         = [[liqueur]]
| abv          = >15% or 47%{{cn|date=May 2024}}
| proof        =
| manufacturer =
| distributor  =
| origin       = Greece
| introduced   =
| discontinued =
| colour       = transparent crystal clear to yellowish
| flavour      = [[Mastic (plant resin)|mastic]]
| ingredients  = [[water]], [[alcohol (drug)|alcohol]], [[sugar]], mastic
| variants     =
| related      =
| website      =
| region       = [[Chios]]
}}
'''Mastika''' or '''mastiha''' is a liqueur seasoned with [[Mastic (plant resin)| mastic]], a resin with a slightly pine or cedar-like flavor gathered from the [[Pistacia lentiscus|mastic tree]], a small evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean region. In Greece, '''mastiha''' ({{langx|el|μαστίχα}}) or '''mastichato''' ({{langx|el|μαστιχάτο}}) is a sweet liqueur produced with the mastika resin from the Greek island of [[Chios]], which is distilled after hardening to crystals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-04-30 |title=What You Need to Know About Greek Mastika |url=https://www.greekboston.com/cooking/mastika/ |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=www.greekboston.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kallivoka |first=Denny |title=Greek Spirits Guide: Everything you need to know about mastiha liqueur |url=https://www.discovergreece.com/travel-ideas/cover-story/greek-spirits-mastiha |access-date=2022-03-29 |website=www.discovergreece.com |language=en}}</ref> Sugar is typically added. It is a sweet liqueur that is typically consumed at the end of a meal. It has a distinctive flavor, reminiscent of pine and herbs. It is claimed to have medicinal properties and to aid digestion.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Difford |first1=Simon |title=Mastiha (AKA:Mastika, Masticha, Mastic, Mαστίχα |url=https://www.diffordsguide.com/beer-wine-spirits/category/1002/mastikha/mastika/masticha/mastic/martxa |website=www.diffordsguide.com |access-date=29 December 2019 |language=en}}</ref>
In August of 2012, wildfires spread across the island of Chios, scorching {{Convert|31,480|acres|ha}} and destroying more than half of the island's mastic orchards. Because the product has a "[[protected designation of origin]]" from the [[European Union]], the fire not only impacted local Chios farmers, who lost approximately 60 percent of their crops, but also derailed the global supply of the product.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2012-08-22 |title=Wildfire on Chios |url=https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/78918/wildfire-on-chios |access-date=2022-03-04 |website=earthobservatory.nasa.gov |language=en}}</ref>
==Chios Mastiha==
[[Image:Pistacia lentiscus sp.jpg|thumb|right|Mastic shrub—''[[Pistacia lentiscus]]'']]
'''Chios Mastiha Liqueur''' ({{langx|el|Μαστίχα Χίου}}, {{IPA-el|masˈtixa ˈçi.u}}) is a [[liqueur]] flavoured with [[Mastic (plant resin)|mastic]] distillate or mastic oil from the island of [[Chios]]. The name ''Chios Mastiha'' has [[protected designation of origin]] status in the [[European Union]].<ref name="EC">{{cite web |title=Masticha Chiou |url=http://ec.europa.eu/agriculture/quality/door/registeredName.html?denominationId=844 |website=Database of Origin and Registration |publisher=European Commission Agriculture and Rural Development |access-date=29 August 2017}}</ref> Chios Mastiha liqueur is clear with a sweet aroma. It is traditionally served cold.
==Production==
The process is regulated by Greek law and includes the flavouring of alcohol with mastic oil by agitation or the [[distillation]] of mastic with alcohol. The solution is then diluted with water and sweetened with sugar. The final alcoholic strength by volume of Chios Mastiha must be at least 15%.
===Flavouring===
{{Main article|Mastic (plant resin)}}
The only flavouring agents used in Chios Mastiha liqueur are an [[distillate|alcoholic distillate]] of mastic or mastic oil made from Chios mastic. Mastic is the hardened sap harvested from the [[Pistacia lentiscus|mastic tree, Pistacia lentiscus var chia]], a small evergreen shrub that grows on rocky terrain on the southern part of the island. Chios mastic is certified by the Agricultural Products Certification and Supervision Organization as part of the [[Ministry of Agricultural Development and Food (Greece)|Hellenic Ministry of Rural Development and Food]].<ref name="HAO">{{cite web|title=Inspection and Certification of PDO and PGI Products|url=http://www.elgo.gr/index.php/el/quality-assurance-of-agricultural-products/inspection-and-certification-of-pdo-and-pgi-products|website=Agrocert|publisher=Hellenic Agricultural Organization|accessdate=29 August 2017}}</ref> The island's mastic production is controlled by a co-operative of medieval villages, the [[Mastichochoria]].
==Producers and distributors==
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Mastiha liqueur Kentos.jpg|thumb|right|A bottle of Chios Mastiha liqueur]] -->
===Chios===
* The Growers' Spirit is a producing company run by the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association (CGMGA).<ref>{{cite web|title=The Growers' Spirit in the UK|url=https://mastihaworld.co.uk/|website=Mastiha World|access-date=2021-07-26|archive-date=2017-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170708102221/https://mastihaworld.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The CGMGA offers Mastiha liqueur made with both mastic distillate and mastic oil in two different variants: Kentos (20% alcohol) and Enosis (30% alcohol).
* Stoupakis Chios Distillery produces Homeric Mastiha, which contains mastic distillate.
* Tetteris Distillery is one of the oldest producers of mastiha liqueur. Tetteris traditional distillery was founded in 1912. Before the company foundation, Stylianos Tetteris was producing and selling ouzo infused with mastic, for exportation. In 1954, Eleftherios Tetteris,<ref>[https://www.ribandsea.com/face/324-2010-04-28-08-01-56.html Eleftherios Tetteris]</ref> seeing the tendency of the consumer public towards local liqueurs, and having studied oenology in France, was the first to experiment in the production of Mastic liqueur by distilling grains in a special way, and developed a special method (that only the Tetteri distillery knows and uses until today), taking natural distillate, and then with the addition of alcohol and sugar, produced the Mastic liqueur.<ref>[https://www.seaop.gr/profile/members/extra-ordinary/afoi-tetterh-o-e]</ref>
KLEOS Mastiha Spirit is the first luxury mastiha brand from Greece launched in March 2018, by the first Greek woman in history to start a liquor brand, Effie Panagopoulos.  It is the only double distilled, small batch, low in sugar mastiha on the market.
===Wider Greece===
* Skinos, based in [[Athens]].
* Finest Roots,<ref[https://finestroots.com/ Finest Roots]</ref> based in [[Kalamata]], produces Roots Mastic<ref>[https://finestroots.com/mastic Roots Mastic</ref>] and Roots Mastic Vintage Strength.<ref>[https://finestroots.com/roots-blogpost/roots-mastic-vintage-strength Roots Mastic Vintage Strength]</ref>
* Mavrakis, based in [[Patras|Patra]].
* D'ARGO Distillery, based in [[Athens]], produces CHANDOLIA Mastic Liqueur by 100% Distillate
===United States===
* Mastrogiannis Mastiha<ref>[https://www.mastrogiannisdistillery.com/collections/spirits/products/mastrogiannis-mastiha Mastrogiannis Mastiha]; {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210726093409/https://www.mastrogiannisdistillery.com/collections/spirits/products/mastrogiannis-mastiha |date=2021-07-26 }}</ref>
* Ambrosia Group , based in Miami, produces FOS Greek Mastiha.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Doss|first1=Laine|title=Fos Greek Mastiha: Go Greek at the Setai|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/restaurants/fos-greek-mastiha-go-greek-at-the-setai-8141535|website=Miami New Times |accessdate=29 August 2017|ref=MNT}}</ref>
* YA Mastiha
==History==
Mastic has been harvested for at least 2,500 years since Greek antiquity. The first mention of actual mastic 'tears' was by [[Hippocrates]]. Hippocrates used mastic for the prevention of digestive problems, colds and as a breath freshener. Roman emperors used mastic along with honey, pepper, and egg in the spiced wine [[Conditum|conditum paradoxum]]. Digestive liqueurs, similar to Mastiha but made with grapes, were known as the Greek elixirs before the French Revolution.
== Influence in literature ==
Greek writer and journalist Zoe Rapti released a novel titled ''Έρωτας με Λικέρ Μαστίχα'' (''Love with Mastic Liqueur'') in 2013. The book is in development to become a film.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Love with Mastic Liqueur |type=Mystery, Romance |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12303340/ |access-date=2024-06-06}}</ref>
== See also ==
* [[Greek cuisine]]
* [[Greek food products]]
== References ==
<references/>
{{Cuisine of Greece}}
[[Category:Greek distilled drinks]]
[[Category:Greek products with protected designation of origin]]
[[Category:Greek words and phrases]]
[[Category:Mastic]]