The Tree House Forest Product Information Sheet

No.90 MASTIC

COMMON NAME: MASTIC

GENUS & SPECIES: Pistacia lentiscus

FAMILY: ANACAEDIACEAE

FAMILY RELATIONS: PISTACHIOS, CASHEWS, MANGO, SUMAC, PEPPER TREE

GENERAL: The mastic tree is an evergreen native of the Mediterranean region of Greece and Cyprus. It grows to about 6 metres in height and has compound leaves composed of three to five pairs of leathery, glossy leaflets set on winged leaf stalks. The small flowers, grouped in clusters, are followed by round black fruits.

ECOLOGY: The mastic tree is frost tender and requires full sunlight and free draining or even dry soil.

CULINARY USES: None

MEDICINAL & OTHER USES: Mastic was once used in dentistry to fill tooth cavities. Mastic is a resin that exudes from the bark and is used in varnishes, oils and paint. It was highly popular in Arab harems to sweeten the breath and whiten the teeth.