The Story of the Tears of Chios Collection

Mystical Jewel

In the northern Aegean Sea lies the beautiful emerald island of Chios, where some very special trees grow. These crouching, gnarled old plants are pretty rare anywhere else. They can be cultivated in other areas, but on this island, alone in the entire world, do they produce the unique solid resin called “Mastic”.

Originally liquid sap, mastic is sun-dried into drops of hard, translucent resin. In Greece it is known as “Tears of Chios”, as the droplets of resin look similar to tears rolling down the tree limbs.

The word mastic is derived from the Greek verb “to gnash the teeth”, which is the source of the English word masticate.

Mastic has been prized since ancient times for its health benefits. Hippocrates wrote about some characteristics and medical uses of mastic, however nowadays, scientists have discovered more and more new benefits of this incredible substance. The smell and taste of Mastic are unique and it can be used in food, various drinks, or eaten alone.

This collection is a tribute to the wonderful island of Chios, a jewel of the northern Aegean.