Mastika: a Liquor Made FroM a shrub

When visiting bulgaria, you might have seen the locals nursing aglass of ice swimming in a clear liquid. No, thats not vodka orwater or any other beverage you might have heard of. thatparticular drink is called mastika. although it originated in Greece,mastika is bulgarias most popular liquor and is considered to beits national beverage. Most of the time, it is mixed with otherliquors to produce cocktails.bulgarians love to drink their mastika with the bulgarian yogurtdrink called ayran. No matter how you enjoy your mastika, it isimportant to remember that it must be drunk while the beverage isstill cold, which is why people keep their bottles of the drink infreezers. once the liquid reaches its freezing point, it forms intotiny ice crystals. the presence of anethol makes this possible.the liquor is considered to be a celebratory drink and is alwayspresent during celebrations and feasts in bulgaria. Mastikaperfectly complements the bulgarian dishes, particularly the onesthat contain chicken. Females have to be wary of men drinkingglasses of mastika. it is believed that the liquor is a greataphrodisiac, although this has not really been proven.Mastika is a name of Greek origin. it was derived from the wordmasticho that means to chew, to gnash the teeth. traditionally,the resin of the Mastic tree was used to make the liquor. however,a modern method of producing mastika was developed. the liquoris now made of rakia base, liquor made from fermented fruit.First, rakia goes through a distillation process, then it is eithermixed with the mastic trees resin or filtered using the trees roots.this method gives the liquor the aniseed flavor.the mastic resin comes from the evergreen shrub called Pistacia lentiscus. this particular tree is somehow akin to the pistachio tree. although the shrub can be found all throughout the Mediterranean area, it is in the Mastic Villages on the island of Chios that the resin is produced. Many believe that the subaquatic volcanoes found under the aegean sea influence the climate of the surrounding area that causes the shrubs to shed tears. -1-

the shrub is usually two to three meters tall and grows veryslowly. Five years after planting the mastic shrub will theproduction of the resin will only start. the tree is known to be astrong plant, susceptible only to cold and improper treatment ofthe plant. Plantations all over the Mediterranean region have beenset up with propagating the mastic shrub properly as the primaryobjective.the beverage is known to have 47% proof, which is regarded to behigher than most common types of liquors. the number increasesif rakia is used as based since it usually has a proof of 40 to 60percent. Mastika also has counterparts in other surroundingeuropean countries.

Mastika Counterparts in Other Countries

The Greeks have two types of liquor that can be considered asclose variations of mastika. the first one is called Mastichato Chiouhas a brandy base that originates from an island in Greece calledChios. the cultivation of the resin of the mastic tree has been atradition on the island. the Mastichato Chiou is best served withalmond-based or flavored desserts. it is also considered to be adigestif in Greek wedding celebrations.ouzo is one of Greeces take on bulgarias mastika. tsikoudia, theother name for ouzo, is usually served cold. if chilling the beverageis not an option, it can also be served at room temperature, on therocks. both drinks have the same properties as mastika.

Mastika is Macedonias national drink. The Macedonians servethe drink before a meal together with a variety of small dishes tostimulate a persons appetite. Figs, plums, raisins or grapes arewhat usually comprises the mastika beverage.

Romania, Iran and Turkey also have their own varieties ofmastika. there is a different name for the mastika liquor for eachcountry.

Mastika-based Cocktails

the following drinks contain the bulgarian liquor as the base. theingredients must be mixed together in a shaker. ice may be addedprior to mixing or the cocktails may be served on the rocks.

-2-

Cloud 50 ml mastika liquor

50 ml crme de menthe 30 ml syrup

Dragon50 ml mastika liquor

60 ml cream30 ml syrup

Montreal Club40 ml dry gin

40 ml mastika liquor

Millionaire10 ml mastika liquor

40 ml dry gin1 egg white

Origin of the Mastic Resin

Legend has it that when saint isidoros died and his body disposedamong the Mastiha shrubs on the Greek island of Chios, and theshrubs were said to have shed tears. the tears are the resin ofthe shrubs that become the mastic gum that is used to makemastika. the mastic gum also has the ability to prevent stomach,liver and blood diseases since the ancient times.since the ancient times, the mastic shrub, its resin and other by-products have served various purposes to the people. ancientGreeks were able to produce oil made of mastic, and they used theresin to give their wines flavor and distinct taste. Nowadays, theuses of the mastic resin have expanded to various fields andaspects of our daily lives. it is now used in medicine, culinary arts,

-3-

cosmetics, and drugs.Consumption of the mastic resin in different forms has gone onsince the 1st century bCe, when dioscorides recommended themastika resin to be used on the face as masks. this is also thetime when the chewing of the shrub started in order to clean theteeth and remove the bad odor of the mouth, which is why theshrub is called masticho in Greece. around 2nd Century Ce,aretaeus created a concoction believed to help the patients whosuffered a heart attack regain their strength. this is believed to bethe first medicinal application of the resin.the mastic resin also has significance in history. the evergreenshrub, as evidenced by historical data, is the reason whyChristopher Columbus embarked on a journey to the west.according to his letter to isabella i of Castille, Columbus relayedthe chances of discovering a new supply of the infamous resin. hebelieved that this is one of the reasons why the spanish queenshould continue funding his voyage.researchers and scientists have made a recent discovery of one ofthe healing properties of the resin of the mastic shrub. theydiscovered that the resin can be used to heal peptic ulcers. it killsthe helicobacter pylori that also cause duodenitis and gastritis. thepreillyl alcohol, which can be found in mastic resin, is believed totreat and prevent a number of cancer forms since it stops thedevelopment of tumors. the resin is also popular lowering therisks of heart diseases and high blood pressure by absorbing thecholesterol found in the body.Consumption of the mastic resin is not only limited to theproduction of the mastika liquor. Who would have thought that thebase product of an alcoholic beverage can actually be used toprevent and treat various diseases of the body? Mastika liquor isnot only a spirit consumed during celebrations and feasts tocommemorate the occasion, but it is a beverage that in itselfcontains history and heritage that every bulgarian, as well asGreek, could be proud of.For more information on bulgaria, please visit :www.bristinbulgaria.info

-4-

Blank Page