Chios natural mastiha or Chios gum mastic is a worldwide unique PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) product, produced only on Chios island and more specifically, only in the south part of the island. It is the natural resin that comes from the mastiha tree (Skinos), with multiple uses in nutrition – liqueurs, sweets, cooking, pharmacology, cosmetic and aromatic products. Its miraculous beneficial properties are known since antiquity. It is antibacterial, helps mouth hygiene and strengthens the gums, can cure stomach ulcers and helps in treating cholesterol problems. Recent scientific research has also proved that mastic has anticancer properties. Through the prism of UNESCO’s inclusion of traditional mastiha cultivation on its Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, this tour program emphasis to the diachronicity and sustainability of this product of Chios.
