Chios mastiha is used as an ingredient, in the production of confectionary and baking. Mastiha sweet is a traditional treat and delightfully named “submarine” in Greek. The customary way to eat mastiha sweet is to take a spoonfull,submerge it in a glass of water and lick it like a lollipop.
Health Benefits of mastiha
Practitioners of alternative medicine have long touted mastic gum as a natural remedy for indigestion, acid reflux, peptic ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), respiratory problems, gum disease, and various bacterial or fungal infections. The aromatic oils in mastic gum—the flavor of which is best described as a mix between pine and eucalyptus—can also help fight bad breath.
Mastic gum contains a number of compounds thought to have medicinal effects, one of which is linalool, which alternative medicine practitioners say can treat stress, inflammation, muscle pain, and insomnia.
Mastic gum has anti-inflammatory properties that may make it useful in treating allergic asthma. This type of asthma often includes airway inflammation, eosinophilia, and airway hyperresponsiveness.
