Greece's Chio Masticha Ouzo and Masticha Liqueur

Mastika (Greek: μαστίχα; Bulgarian: мастика) is originally a liquor made from the resin of the Mastic tree, also known as mastic. The best qualities grow on the Greek island of Chios in the Aegean Sea. Image File history File links MastichatoDrink. ... Image File history File links MastichatoDrink. ... Resin of a pine Insect trapped in resin. ... Binomial name Pistacia lentiscus L. Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) is an evergreen shrub or small tree growing to 3–4 m tall, mainly cultivated on the Greek island of Chios[1], but it is also native throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Iberia east to Syria and Israel and north... Chios (Greek: , alternative transliterations Khios and Hios, see also List of traditional Greek place names; Turkish: ; Genoese: Scio) is a Greek island in the Aegean Sea 5 miles off the Turkish coasts. ... The Aegean Sea. ...

In Greece two such alcoholic beverages are known under the umbrella term Mastichato: one is an outright liqueur, the other is similar to Ouzo and Tsikoudia (a strong cretan Raki). It is served cold or in room temperature but usually with ice. They turn white when poured over ice or mixed with water, forming little crystals when in freezer. They are served with various mezedes -- appetizers such as octopus, salad, sardines, calamari, fried zucchini, and clams, among others -- or pikilia. Bottles of cachaça, a Brazilian alcoholic beverage. ... Chio Masticha Ouzo and Masticha Liqueur Mastichato Chio (Greek: Μαστιχάτο Χίου; Μαστιχά λικέρ; Ούζο Μαστίχας) also known as Chios Masticha, (mastika, mastichat, mastikha, mastiha) and Masticha Ouzo is a Greek smooth mastic-flavored liqueur made out of resin, the Greek brandy based liqueur is native to the Aegean Island Chios, which is widely known for its... Bottles of strawberry liqueur A liqueur is a sweet alcoholic beverage, often flavoured with fruits, herbs, spices, flowers, seeds, roots, plants, barks, and sometimes cream. ... A bottle of ouzo Ouzo (ούζο) is a Greek anise-flavored liqueur that is widely consumed in Greece. ... In Greece, in particular on the island of Crete, Tsikoudia or Raki is a grape-based spirit made from the distillation of pomace, i. ... For the famous World War II battle, see: Battle of Crete For other uses, see Crete (disambiguation). ... Raki is: An alternate name for Rangi, the sky father in the South Island dialect of Māori. ... Meze goes well with ouzo/raki   It should be possible to replace this fair use image with a freely licensed one. ... Families 11 in two suborders, see text. ... Salad Platter Salad is a term applied broadly to many food preparations that are a mixture of chopped or sliced ingredients. ... Sardines or pilchards are a group of several types of small oily fish related to herrings, family Clupeidae. ... For other uses, see Squid (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Curcurbita pepo L. Two Tondo di Piacenza Courgettes Ovary at the base of a female flower Zucchini (US, Australian, and Canadian English) or courgette (New Zealand and British English) is a small summer marrow or squash, also commonly called Italian squash. ... Littleneck clams: Rocks with food inside. ... Greek cuisine is the cuisine of Greece or perhaps of the Greeks. ...

The word Mastika is also widely used in neighboring countries (eg. Bulgarian: мастика; Macedonian: мастика; Romanian: mastică) for an anise-flavored liqueur popular in the southern Balkans. It is considered the 'national drink' of the Republic of Macedonia containing 45% alcohol, has a hot taste not unlike that of brandy and is usually made from grapes, raisins, plums or figs. It is usually poured over ice and enjoyed with Meze. Binomial name Pimpinella anisum L. Anise or Aniseed, less commonly anís (stressed on the first syllable) (Pimpinella anisum) is a flowering plant in the family Apiaceae, native to the eastern Mediterranean region and southwest Asia. ... Balkan peninsula with northwest border Isonzo-Krka-Sava The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe a region of southeastern Europe. ... Anthem: Transliteration: English: Capital (and largest city) Skopje Macedonian, Albanian1 Government Parliamentary republic  - President Branko Crvenkovski  - Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski Independence from Yugoslavia   - Declared September 8, 1991  Area  - Total 25,333 km² (148th) 9,779 sq mi   - Water (%) 1. ... Functional group of an alcohol molecule. ... Brandy pot stills at the Van Ryn Brandy Cellar near Stellenbosch, South Africa Brandy (short for brandywine, from Dutch brandewijn—burning wine) is a general term for distilled wine, usually 40–60% ethyl alcohol by volume. ... Species Vitis acerifolia Vitis aestivalis Vitis amurensis Vitis arizonica Vitis x bourquina Vitis californica Vitis x champinii Vitis cinerea Vitis x doaniana Vitis girdiana Vitis labrusca Vitis x labruscana Vitis monticola Vitis mustangensis Vitis x novae-angliae Vitis palmata Vitis riparia Vitis rotundifolia Vitis rupestris Vitis shuttleworthii Vitis tiliifolia Vitis... Alternate uses: Raisin (disambiguation) A Raisin is a sun-dried or artificially dried grape, used in cooking and baking. ... Plum is also a nickname for British humorist P. G. Wodehouse. ... Species About 800, including: Ficus altissima Ficus americana Ficus aurea Ficus benghalensis - Indian Banyan Ficus benjamina - Weeping Fig Ficus broadwayi Ficus carica - Common Fig Ficus citrifolia Ficus drupacea Ficus elastica Ficus godeffroyi Ficus grenadensis Ficus hartii Ficus lyrata Ficus macbrideii Ficus microcarpa - Chinese Banyan Ficus nota Ficus obtusifolia Ficus palmata... Meze goes well with ouzo/raki   It should be possible to replace this fair use image with a freely licensed one. ...

Advertisement poster of Bulgarian mastika

In Bulgaria, it is often combined with Menta, a mint liqueur, to make a traditional cocktail called Cloud (Bulgarian: облак).In Romania, it is used as a wedding toast, where it often is thought of as a good accompaniment to traditional chicken dishes. Image File history File linksMetadata Mastika2003_2. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Mastika2003_2. ... Menta is sweet mint liquor prepared from natural ingredients like spearmint oil. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

There are similar liqueurs in Greece as Ouzo, Tsipouro and Tsikoudia, in Turkey as Raki and in Persia as arak. A bottle of ouzo Ouzo (ούζο) is a Greek anise-flavored liqueur that is widely consumed in Greece. ... Tsipouro (Τσίπουρο) is an alcoholic drink found in Greece and in particular in Thessaly, Epirus, Macedonia and on the island of Crete. ... In Greece, in particular on the island of Crete, Tsikoudia or Raki is a grape-based spirit made from the distillation of pomace, i. ... Raki is: An alternate name for Rangi, the sky father in the South Island dialect of Māori. ... Motto: Esteqlāl, āzādÄ«, jomhÅ«rÄ«-ye eslāmÄ«  (Persian) Independence, freedom, (the) Islamic Republic Anthem: SorÅ«d-e MellÄ«-e Īrān Capital (largest city) Tehran Persian Government Islamic Republic  - Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei  - President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Establishment 550 BCE Cyrus the Great overthrows Median overlords and... Arak Rayan. ...

The denominations in the Balkans generally differ from the mediterranean ones, although very similar products exist in both regions. This sometimes leads to confusion. For instance, Serbian, Bulgarian and Macedonian Rakia (rakija) is a fruit brandy, which is never flavored with anise. A traditional bottle of slivovitz, plum rakia Croatian Sljivovica and Slovenian Slivovka, two different names for the same drink, a plum rakia Rakia or rakija (Croatian, Slovenian and Bosnian: rakija, Albanian: raki, Macedonian and Serbian: ракија or rakija, Romanian: rachiu, Bulgarian: ракия) is hard liquor similar to brandy and vodka, made by...

Cultural Significance

Mastika is also the title of a popular song in Turkish Roma music (Download sample; see also Samples of Turkish music). Popular in some Balkan regions. 19th century print of Roma musicians Roma music is highly varied among the diverse communities of the Roma (aka Gypsies). ... History (Timeline and Samples) Genres: Alternative - Classical - Dance - Folk - Hip hop - Jazz - Military - Ottoman - Pop - Religious - Rock Music awards Kral - MÜ-YAP - MGD Charts Powerturk 40 - Kral 20 Annual festivals Istanbul International Music Festival - Istanbul International Jazz Festival - Ankara IMF - Izmir European Jazz Festival Media Bant magazine - Mix! - Adante - Blue... ...

From a female version of the lyrics: "If you collect all the stars in sky and throw them on my lap, in return I'll give you nine kids to have. // A-a-a, Mastika, mastika... // If you paint my body all in honey, I'll let you love me from my head to my toes... // A-a-a, Mastika, mastika..."