{"id":4864,"date":"2025-12-24T13:14:10","date_gmt":"2025-12-24T13:14:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/?post_type=story&#038;p=4864"},"modified":"2026-01-09T16:45:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T16:45:17","slug":"masticha-to-dentro-pou-pligoname","status":"publish","type":"story","link":"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/en\/story\/masticha-to-dentro-pou-pligoname\/","title":{"rendered":"Mastic: Nature\u2019s tears"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<section class=\"section galleryBlock \">\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"CarouselDiv\">\n\t<div data-view=\"1\" class=\"Carousel \n\t\tImageGrid ImageGallery--slideshow \n\t\t\toneImg\n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\tswiper-container \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t half\"  data-type=\"half\">\n\n\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__wrapper swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__slide swiper-slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"ImageGalleryItem \" style=\"\">\n\t<div class=\"ImageGalleryItemCarousel \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"ImageGalleryItem__image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-1536x983.jpeg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-768x492.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-1536x983.jpeg 1440w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-2048x1311.jpeg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 100vw, 100vw\" data-sub-html=\"The mastic tree\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"--ratio:50%\" class=\" AspectRatioBox \"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-2048x1311.jpeg\" alt=\"The mastic tree\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-300x192.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-1024x655.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-768x492.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-1536x983.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1_-2048x1311.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 100vw, 100vw\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"ImageGalleryItem__caption\">\n\t\t\t\t\tThe mastic tree\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav-prev swiper-button-prev\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<button  class=\"Button \n\t\t\t  \t\t\t   Button--icon-only\t\t\t   Button--secondary--alt \t\t\t  \"   >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"Button__icon  Button__icon--right \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<svg class=\"SvgIcon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" shape-rendering=\"geometricPrecision\"  style=\"--svg-size: 24px\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<use class=\"icon-arrow-left-icon\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/hh\/public\/images\/icons.svg#icon-arrow-left-icon\"><\/use>\n\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"divider arrows\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav-next swiper-button-next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<button  class=\"Button \n\t\t\t  \t\t\t   Button--icon-only\t\t\t   Button--secondary--alt \t\t\t  \"   >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"Button__icon  Button__icon--right \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<svg class=\"SvgIcon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" shape-rendering=\"geometricPrecision\"  style=\"--svg-size: 24px\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<use class=\"icon-arrow-right-icon\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/hh\/public\/images\/icons.svg#icon-arrow-right-icon\"><\/use>\n\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section ContentText TitleCenter  \">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"rich-text\">\n\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400; color: #000000;\">If pressed, most Greeks can recall having sampled the characteristically tough mastic-flavored chewing gum, a lokum or a liqueur, while in recent years mastic has lent its distinctive aroma to an increasing number of delicatessen products and cosmetics, and has even been elevated to a high-end ingredient in gastronomy, featured in select restaurants menus the world over.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000;\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For southern Chios, however, the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">schinos<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> tree of the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> variety &#8211; the source of the delicious mastic &#8211; means so much more: it\u2019s an integral part of the island\u2019s identity. The cultivation of this mastic-bearing shrub is a unique traditional practice passed down from one generation to the next, both orally and experientially, shaping the cultural, architectural, social and natural landscape of the Mastichochoria for centuries.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section EmphasisText  \">\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"rich-text\">\n\t\t<p>Local legends have their own way of explaining away the origin of the precious drops: It is said that the mastic trees shed resin tears when they witnessed the suffering of Saint Isidore, who was tortured at the hands of the Romans.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section ContentText TitleCenter  \">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"rich-text\">\n\t\t<p>Mysteriously, although the mastic tree grows in other parts of mainland Greece and the islands, as well as on the nearby coast of Asia Minor, southern Chios is the only region that has actually produced this coveted resin dating back to the Byzantine times.<\/p>\n<p>Agios Georgios, Armolia, Vavyloi, Vessa, Vouno, Elata, Exo Didyma, Tholopotami, Thymiana, Kalamoti, Kallimasia, Kataraktis, Koini, Lithi, Mesa Didyma, Mesta, Myrmigi, Nenita, Neochori, Olympoi, Pagida, Patrika, Pyrgi and Flatsia are the 24 medieval villages in which mastic cultivation remains a vibrant and life-giving tradition. In 2013 it was entered in the National Inventory of Intangible Cultural Heritage, while in 2014 it was inscribed by UNESCO on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. In addition, mastic was officially recognized as a natural medicine in 2015.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section galleryBlock \">\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"CarouselDiv\">\n\t<div data-view=\"2\" class=\"Carousel \n\t\tImageGrid ImageGallery--slideshow \n\t\t\t two-items \n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\tswiper-container \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t half\"  data-type=\"half\">\n\n\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__wrapper swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__slide swiper-slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"ImageGalleryItem \" style=\"\">\n\t<div class=\"ImageGalleryItemCarousel \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"ImageGalleryItem__image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9_-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9_.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9_.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 100vw, 100vw\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"--ratio:75%\" class=\" AspectRatioBox \"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9_.jpg\" alt=\"Mastic cultivation on the island of Chios\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9_-300x198.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9_-768x507.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/9_.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1081px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__slide swiper-slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"ImageGalleryItem \" style=\"\">\n\t<div class=\"ImageGalleryItemCarousel \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"ImageGalleryItem__image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6_-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6_.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6_.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 100vw, 100vw\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"--ratio:75%\" class=\" AspectRatioBox \"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6_.jpg\" alt=\"Mastic cultivation on the island of Chios\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6_-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6_-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/6_.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1081px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav-prev swiper-button-prev\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<button  class=\"Button \n\t\t\t  \t\t\t   Button--icon-only\t\t\t   Button--secondary--alt \t\t\t  \"   >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"Button__icon  Button__icon--right \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<svg class=\"SvgIcon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" shape-rendering=\"geometricPrecision\"  style=\"--svg-size: 24px\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<use class=\"icon-arrow-left-icon\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/hh\/public\/images\/icons.svg#icon-arrow-left-icon\"><\/use>\n\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"divider arrows\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav-next swiper-button-next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<button  class=\"Button \n\t\t\t  \t\t\t   Button--icon-only\t\t\t   Button--secondary--alt \t\t\t  \"   >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"Button__icon  Button__icon--right \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<svg class=\"SvgIcon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" shape-rendering=\"geometricPrecision\"  style=\"--svg-size: 24px\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<use class=\"icon-arrow-right-icon\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/hh\/public\/images\/icons.svg#icon-arrow-right-icon\"><\/use>\n\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section ContentText TitleCenter  \">\n\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"rich-text\">\n\t\t<p>In the beautiful village of Pyrgi, where the facade of every home is decorated with intricate geometric patterns, visitors will find a state-of-the-art museum in perfect harmony with the natural environment, founded by the Piraeus Bank Group Cultural Foundation in 2016, exclusively dedicated to this miraculous product and the plant it was derived from.<\/p>\n<p>At the <strong>Chios Mastic Museum<\/strong> (Pyrgi, Rachi &#8211; Tepeki, Chios, tel.: +30 22710 72212), you will learn everything you need to know about traditional mastic cultivation and how it has shaped the region\u2019s landscape throughout history, the changing commercial exploitation of the end product in recent years, as well as its many uses, which have fuelled its journey around the world. Meanwhile, in the open-air portion of the museum, you will get the chance to see the plant itself and the natural environment where it thrives.<\/p>\n<p>Local legends, of course, have their own way of explaining away the origin of the precious drops: It is said that the mastic trees shed resin tears when they witnessed the suffering of Saint Isidore, who was tortured at the hands of the Romans, and that\u2019s where mastic originated.<\/p>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section galleryBlock withDivider\">\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\t\t\n<div class=\"CarouselDiv\">\n\t<div data-view=\"2\" class=\"Carousel \n\t\tImageGrid ImageGallery--slideshow \n\t\t\t two-items \n\t\t\t \n\t\t\t\tswiper-container \n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t half\"  data-type=\"half\">\n\n\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__wrapper swiper-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__slide swiper-slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"ImageGalleryItem \" style=\"\">\n\t<div class=\"ImageGalleryItemCarousel \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"ImageGalleryItem__image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10_-1.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10_-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10_-1.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10_-1.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 100vw, 100vw\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"--ratio:75%\" class=\" AspectRatioBox \"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10_-1.jpg\" alt=\"Mastic cultivation on the island of Chios\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10_-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10_-1-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/10_-1.jpg 1000w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1081px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__slide swiper-slide\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<article class=\"ImageGalleryItem \" style=\"\">\n\t<div class=\"ImageGalleryItemCarousel \">\n\t\t\t\t<a class=\"ImageGalleryItem__image\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8_.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8_-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8_.jpg 1440w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8_.jpg 1536w\" data-sizes=\"(min-width: 1024px) 100vw, 100vw\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n<div style=\"--ratio:75%\" class=\" AspectRatioBox \"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8_.jpg\" alt=\"Mastic cultivation on the island of Chios\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8_-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8_-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/8_.jpg 994w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1081px) 1024px, (min-width: 768px) 768px, 100vw\"\/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/article>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav-prev swiper-button-prev\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<button  class=\"Button \n\t\t\t  \t\t\t   Button--icon-only\t\t\t   Button--secondary--alt \t\t\t  \"   >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"Button__icon  Button__icon--right \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<svg class=\"SvgIcon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" shape-rendering=\"geometricPrecision\"  style=\"--svg-size: 24px\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<use class=\"icon-arrow-left-icon\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/hh\/public\/images\/icons.svg#icon-arrow-left-icon\"><\/use>\n\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"divider arrows\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"Carousel__nav-next swiper-button-next\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<button  class=\"Button \n\t\t\t  \t\t\t   Button--icon-only\t\t\t   Button--secondary--alt \t\t\t  \"   >\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"Button__icon  Button__icon--right \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n<svg class=\"SvgIcon  \" aria-hidden=\"true\" role=\"presentation\" shape-rendering=\"geometricPrecision\"  style=\"--svg-size: 24px\"  >\n\t\t\t\t<use class=\"icon-arrow-right-icon\" href=\"\/wp-content\/themes\/hh\/public\/images\/icons.svg#icon-arrow-right-icon\"><\/use>\n\t<\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\t<\/section>\n\n\n\n<section class=\"section listBlock   \">\n\t<div class=\"block-heading d-flex\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-title\">See also<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\t<div class=\"row list three-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12  col-md-4 card-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<div class=\"Card    \"  \n   >\n  \n\t\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/en\/story\/i-kalathoplektiki-sti-volax\/\" class=\"cardMainLink\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"CardTitle__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>The art of basket weaving in Volax<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t      <div class=\"Card__image\">\n                          \n<div style=\"--ratio:75%\" class=\" AspectRatioBox \">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-2.jpg\" alt=\"The art of basket weaving in Volax\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-2-300x192.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-2-1024x655.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-2-768x492.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-2-1536x983.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-2-2048x1311.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 100vw, 100vw\">\n            <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"CardBody   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"CardTitle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"CardTitle__title \" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe art of basket weaving in Volax\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"CardBody__description \">Volax, the Tinian village with the unusual name and the mysterious lunar landscape that has led to endless speculations about fallen meteorites, was once one of the most important basket-weaving centers in Greece.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12  col-md-4 card-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<div class=\"Card    \"  \n   >\n  \n\t\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/en\/story\/charoupi-apo-tapeini-zootrofi-se-sygchrono-superfood\/\" class=\"cardMainLink\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"CardTitle__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Carob: From humble animal feed to modern superfood<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t      <div class=\"Card__image\">\n                          \n<div style=\"--ratio:75%\" class=\" AspectRatioBox \">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1.jpeg\" alt=\"Green carobs on a carob tree\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-300x192.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-1024x655.jpeg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-768x492.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-1536x983.jpeg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/1-2048x1311.jpeg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 100vw, 100vw\">\n            <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"CardBody   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"CardTitle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"CardTitle__title \" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCarob: From humble animal feed to modern superfood\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"CardBody__description \">Dominant in the wild Cretan landscape, the carob tree aspires to play an important role on the Mediterranean table, ushering traditional forms of agricultural cultivation back into the spotlight.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-12  col-md-4 card-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\n\n\n<div class=\"Card    \"  \n   >\n  \n\t\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/en\/story\/to-xerolithiko-topio-tis-tinou-ena-zontano-mnimeio\/\" class=\"cardMainLink\" >\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"CardTitle__title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>The dry-stone landscape of Tinos, a living monument<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\n\t      <div class=\"Card__image\">\n                          \n<div style=\"--ratio:75%\" class=\" AspectRatioBox \">                 <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_6345.jpg\" alt=\"The dry-stone landscape of Tinos\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_6345-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_6345-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_6345-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_6345-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/IMG_6345-2048x1536.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 768px) 100vw, 100vw\">\n            <\/div>\n              <\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"CardBody   \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"CardTitle\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"CardTitle__title \" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tThe dry-stone landscape of Tinos, a living monument\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"CardBody__description \">The rural landscape of Tinos is unique in the Aegean, as it represents one of the most intensively cultivated terrains in the Cyclades.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n \n<\/section>\n  \n    \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The aromatic tears of a unique variety of mastic tree have been linked to the cultural identity of southern Chios for centuries, as it happens to be the only place in the world where mastic is systematically produced.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":4866,"parent":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","story_category":[78],"class_list":["post-4864","story","type-story","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","story_category-gastronomy-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Mastic: Nature\u2019s tears - Hellenic Heritage<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hh.gr\/en\/story\/masticha-to-dentro-pou-pligoname\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Mastic: Nature\u2019s tears - Hellenic Heritage\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The aromatic tears of a 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