Mastic Tree - Pistachier Lentisque (Pistacia lentiscus)

Family: Pistaciaceae | Edibility: Edible (2/5)

Bloom Color: Green. Main Bloom Time: Late spring, Mid spring. Form: Rounded, Spreading or horizontal.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Fall, Late Summer, Spring, Winter

Flavor & Culinary Uses

sweet liquorice-flavoured resin, called 'mastic', is obtained from incisions made into the bark of the trunk, but not into the wood. — A sweet liquorice-flavoured resin, called 'mastic', is obtained from incisions made into the bark of the trunk, but not into the wood.; The odour is agreeable and the taste mild and resinous, when chewed it becomes soft and so can easily be masticated.; It is chewed to strengthen the gums and as a breath sweetener and also used as a flavouring in puddings, sweets (including 'Turkish delight') cakes etc.; It is also the basis of a Greek confectionery called 'masticha' and a liqueur called 'mastiche'.

Habitat & North American Range

Open woods and scrub on dry hillsides, usually by the coast. (Zone 8, Zone 9)