If you grew up in the U.S., chances are your first gum was pink, sweet and gone in five minutes. Mastic gum is a different story. It starts with a tree, not a lab, and it has been chewed around the Mediterranean for a very long time.
A resin, not a recipe
Mastic is the resin of the mastic tree (Pistacia lentiscus), a small evergreen that grows around the Mediterranean. The best-known mastic comes from the southern part of the Greek island of Chios, where growers score the bark and let the resin slowly seep out and harden into pale, translucent drops. Locals call them "tears."
Those drops are collected, cleaned by hand and sorted. On their own they are firm and a little brittle. Chew one for a minute and it softens into a natural gum with a clean, slightly piney, almost cedar-like taste.
What it tastes like
Mastic does not taste like mint or fruit. The flavor is subtle, fresh and a little woodsy. Some people love it on the first chew. Others prefer it paired with a familiar flavor, which is why we make Mastiqe in Original as well as Peppermint, Spearmint, Cinnamon, Ginger and Watermelon.
Why the chew feels different
Gum made with mastic is firmer than the soft, pillowy sticks most Americans are used to. That is the point. It gives you a longer, more satisfying chew, and the flavor does not disappear in the first few minutes.
How Mastiqe uses it
Every piece of Mastiqe is made with natural mastic. Our gum is sugar-free, vegan and gluten-free, and it is made without aspartame or BHT. Each box holds 12 pocket-size packs, so there is one for your bag, your car and your desk.
New to mastic? Start here
- Want the real thing: try Original, the purest mastic flavor.
- Want something familiar: Peppermint or Spearmint are the easiest first step.
- Cannot decide: the Variety Pack lets you try them all.
