MASTIKA: A LIQUOR MADE FROm

SHRUB

When visiting Bulgaria, you might have seen the locals nursing a glass of ice swimming in a clear liquid. No, thats not vodka or water or any other beverage you might have heard of. That particular drink is called mastika. Although it originated in Greece, mastika is Bulgarias most popular liquor and is considered to be its national beverage. Most of the time, it is mixed with other liquors to produce cocktails. Bulgarians love to drink their mastika with the Bulgarian yogurt drink called Ayran. No matter how you enjoy your mastika, it is important to remember that it must be drunk while the beverage is still cold, which is why people keep their bottles of the drink in freezers. Once the liquid reaches its freezing point, it forms into tiny ice crystals. The presence of anethol makes this possible. The liquor is considered to be a celebratory drink and is always present during celebrations and feasts in Bulgaria. Mastika perfectly complements the Bulgarian dishes, particularly the ones that contain chicken. Females have to be wary of men drinking glasses of mastika. It is believed that the liquor is a great aphrodisiac, although this has not really been proven. Mastika is a name of Greek origin. It was derived from the word masticho 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 liquor is now made of Rakia base, liquor made from fermented fruit. First, Rakia goes through a distillation process, then it is either mixed 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.

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The shrub is usually two to three meters tall and grows very slowly. Five years after planting the mastic shrub will the production of the resin will only start. The tree is known to be a strong plant, susceptible only to cold and improper treatment of the plant. Plantations all over the Mediterranean region have been set up with propagating the mastic shrub properly as the primary objective. The beverage is known to have 47% proof, which is regarded to be higher than most common types of liquors. The number increases if Rakia is used as based since it usually has a proof of 40 to 60 percent. Mastika also has counterparts in other surrounding European countries. Mastika Counterparts in Other Countries The Greeks have two types of liquor that can be considered as close variations of mastika. The first one is called Mastichato Chiou has a brandy base that originates from an island in Greece called Chios. The cultivation of the resin of the mastic tree has been a tradition on the island. The Mastichato Chiou is best served with almond-based or flavored desserts. It is also considered to be a digestif in Greek wedding celebrations. Ouzo is one of Greeces take on Bulgarias mastika. Tsikoudia, the other name for ouzo, is usually served cold. If chilling the beverage is not an option, it can also be served at room temperature, on the rocks. Both drinks have the same properties as mastika. Mastika is Macedonias national drink. The Macedonians serve the drink before a meal together with a variety of small dishes to stimulate a persons appetite. Figs, plums, raisins or grapes are what usually comprises the mastika beverage. Romania, Iran and Turkey also have their own varieties of mastika. There is a different name for the mastika liquor for each country. Mastika-based Cocktails The following drinks contain the Bulgarian liquor as the base. The ingredients must be mixed together in a shaker. Ice may be added prior to mixing or the cocktails may be served on the rocks.

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Cloud 50 ml mastika liquor 50 ml crme de menthe 30 ml syrup

Dragon 50 ml mastika liquor 60 ml cream 30 ml syrup

Montreal Club 40 ml dry gin 40 ml mastika liquor

Millionaire 10 ml mastika liquor 40 ml dry gin 1 egg white Origin of the Mastic Resin Legend has it that when Saint Isidoros died and his body disposed among the Mastiha shrubs on the Greek island of Chios, and the shrubs were said to have shed tears. The tears are the resin of the shrubs that become the mastic gum that is used to make mastika. 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 byproducts have served various purposes to the people. Ancient Greeks were able to produce oil made of mastic, and they used the resin to give their wines flavor and distinct taste. Nowadays, the uses of the mastic resin have expanded to various fields and aspects of our daily lives. It is now used in medicine, culinary arts,

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cosmetics, and drugs. Consumption of the mastic resin in different forms has gone on since the 1st century BCE, when Dioscorides recommended the mastika resin to be used on the face as masks. This is also the time when the chewing of the shrub started in order to clean the teeth and remove the bad odor of the mouth, which is why the shrub is called masticho in Greece. Around 2nd Century CE, Aretaeus created a concoction believed to help the patients who suffered a heart attack regain their strength. This is believed to be the first medicinal application of the resin. The mastic resin also has significance in history. The evergreen shrub, as evidenced by historical data, is the reason why Christopher Columbus embarked on a journey to the west. According to his letter to Isabella I of Castille, Columbus relayed the chances of discovering a new supply of the infamous resin. He believed that this is one of the reasons why the Spanish queen should continue funding his voyage. Researchers and scientists have made a recent discovery of one of the healing properties of the resin of the mastic shrub. They discovered that the resin can be used to heal peptic ulcers. It kills the Helicobacter pylori that also cause duodenitis and gastritis. The preillyl alcohol, which can be found in mastic resin, is believed to treat and prevent a number of cancer forms since it stops the development of tumors. The resin is also popular lowering the risks of heart diseases and high blood pressure by absorbing the cholesterol found in the body. Consumption of the mastic resin is not only limited to the production of the mastika liquor. Who would have thought that the base product of an alcoholic beverage can actually be used to prevent and treat various diseases of the body? Mastika liquor is not only a spirit consumed during celebrations and feasts to commemorate the occasion, but it is a beverage that in itself contains history and heritage that every Bulgarian, as well as Greek, could be proud of. For more information www.bristinbulgaria.info on Bulgaria, please visit :

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