Mastic - who has ever heard of this resiny ingredient before?

I have heard it mentioned twice in the last week and am now of course very intrigued and wanting to try it - although I am very wary of food that may possibly end up tasting like toothpaste, cough syrup or frankincense and myrrh.

Oh well if you didn't like it maybe you could varnish the coffee table with the leftovers.

I found this info online: [www.theepicentre.com]




Four legs good, two legs bad. George Orwell



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/19/2009 11:10PM by lynley.

I have never heard of mastic before. How incredible that as a chewing gum it keeps it's flavour for 15-20 minutes.

It’s a very interesting ingredient. Mastica comes from the dried sap of a variety of pistachio tree.
It’s very popular in Greece and has a lovely resinous flavour which works well in certain desserts and pastries. A paste of mastica is served with iced water in many Greek bars and is meant to be very refreshing.
I’ve tried to find it here but without success, apart from in over priced capsule form as a health supplement.
I have number of pistachio nut trees and I’ve tried the resin from them- certainly has potential.

Wow- that link has two recipes that I've been after for years!!!!!
Thank you Lynley!

The secret seems to be to use only a small amount or it does end up tasting frankincense & myrrh, but here it only seems to come in small amounts so that probably isn't a problem


- Fiona

And I always thought it referred to cows chewing their cud!! You learn something every day.

Marnie

Previously to hearing about it on MasterChef twice in relation to Greek cooking, I had only ever heard of mastic as a type of paste-thing that you would use to fill gaps where a bit of flexibility is required, such as between a bath and the wall. Silicone is used these days, but it used to be called mastic.

For the curious, we have it in our shop - it's from Herbie's in Australia.

-- Karl

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What Karl & Fiona have been cooking up!
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Will do - thanks, Lynley

Four legs good, two legs bad. George Orwell

I have vivid memories of raki - the mastic liqueur. We were on Crete and our driver stopped at a cafe in the middle of Samaria Gorge, bought a bottle and using sign language (he spoke no English) indicated that when the bottle was empty we could go. And so it was. Numerous raki shots all round.

And to think he drove through the gorge after that......

I'll be in touch shortly Karl

I'm very interested! I've been trying to find it for years. Memories of mastica gelato are haunting me and I can think of but one way to exorcise them!

We'd run out for a bit. We have some more on order, and if you like I can PM you when it arrives.

-- Karl

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What Karl & Fiona have been cooking up!
[edibleplanet.wordpress.com]

Yes please Karl!

If there is any left needing a good home I wouldn't mind pitching in for some.

I've got mine - thanks Karl & Fiona! (plus the bonus GROUND BAY LEAVES!!!!) awesome delivery! I don't think anyone will be splitting a delivery anytime soon, I had no idea this stuff was rarer than hen's teeth! Looking forward to having the time to have a go at a recipe - bonus recipe on the back of the packet for Orange Blossom Ice Cream which tickles me....will keep y'all posted

Four legs good, two legs bad. George Orwell