Know-how of cultivating mastic on the Island of Chios

The pistacia lentiscus shrub, which grows in south Chios, and from which is extracted an aromatic resin called mastic, has been renowned since the Middle Ages for its properties and multiple uses. The production of mastic, an ancient practice unaltered over time, impacts the social structure and cultural landscape of 24 Mastic Villages (St Georges, Armolia, Vavyloi, Vessa, Vouno, Elata, Exo Didyma, Tholopotami, Thymiana, Kalamoti, Kallimasia, Katarrakti, Koini, Lithi , Mesa Didyma, Mesta, Mirmingi, Nenita, Neohori, Olympoi, Pagida, Patrika, Pyrgi, Flatsia) where the product is exclusively extracted.

The Know how of cultivating mastic on the island of Chios was inscribed on:

– the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Greece in 2013,

– on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity- UNESCO in 2014:  Certificate of inscription on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity

 

Detailed description of the element: Know-how of cultivating mastic on the island of Chios

 

Links:
Short film on Cultivation of Mastic on the island of Chios: YouTube