Kokos Mastic Candy

These Greek candies get their chew from the resin of mastic trees — the same substance that was reportedly used in the world’s first chewing gum. In fact, the word ‘mastic’ comes from the Greek word mastichon, which means ‘to chew.’ Mastic trees are native to Greece, specifically the island of Chios, where mastic is grown and produced in large quantities. The resin has a mild herbal flavor, and besides adding texture to candies and gums, it’s also used in several other products, including liquors, powders, and oils. It’s even thought to have medicinal properties. To collect the resin, farmers make incisions into the bark of mastic trees, then wait a few weeks for it to accumulate in droplets before harvesting it. A healthy mastic tree can produce resin for a long time — 70 to 100 years. That’s a lot of candy!