Mastic Tree, Mastic shrub
Pistacia lentiscus
Family: Anacardiaceae
What it is like
A small evergreen shrub. It grows to about 1-3 m high and can spread to 3 m wide. It can be 7 m high. The leaves are 10 cm long and there are wings on the leaf stalk. The leaves are compound with several pairs (2-7) of leathery leaflets. There is no leaflet at the end. The flowers are at the tips of shoots. The male flowers are in dense panicles 3 cm long with red stamens. The female flowers are greenish and in 6 cm long loose panicles. The fruit are round and red. The fruit are 5 mm across and become black when they are ripe.
Where it is found
It is a Mediterranean climate plant. It will grow on most soils. It likes a protected sunny position. It cannot grow in shade. It is drought and frost tender. It suits hardiness zones 8-11.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Algeria, Australia, Balkans, Bosnia, Britain, Canary Islands, Cyprus, Europe, France, Greece, India, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Libya, Mediterranean, Middle East, Morocco, North Africa, North America, Palestine, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, Turkey, Türkiye, USA
How it is used for food
The nut inside the fruit is edible. They are eaten raw or roasted. The sap is used to flavour an alcoholic beverage. Caution: Alcohol is a cause of cancer. It is also used in puddings, cookies, cakes and candies. The gum is used for texture and binding but gives some flavour. It is chewed as a breath freshener. It is sweet and has a liquorice flavour. The seeds yield an edible oil. The young leaves and leaf buds are eaten. They can be eaten raw as a snack or in yoghurt salad.
It is important on the Greek island of Chios. It is cultivated.
Edible parts
Nuts, leaves as condiment, spice, resin, gum, seeds, oil
How it is grown
Plants can be grown from seed.
It is slow growing. Mastic production can commence at 5-6 years and yield 1 kg per tree by 15 years old. They take 40-50 years to become well established. Production declines after 70 years. Trees can live for 200 years. When the bark is cut it yields a clear resinous substance which coagulates to give gum mastic. The "tears" of gum are 3-5 mm long.
Its other names
Local names
Aza, Lentisco, Lentisk, Masticha, Mastika, Matissa, Sarees, Shaashoub, Sinya, Sodopernata rujevina, Trslja