Mastic

2024 Author: Jasmine Walkman | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 08:29

Mastic is among the favorite summer drinks of our people. This high alcohol aniseed drink is consumed chilled. Usually the alcohol content in it amounts to 45 to 50 percent. Properly, this type of alcohol is diluted with water before being served. In this situation, the color of the drink changes slightly and acquires a milky white hue. The mastic is considered a male drink, although sometimes there are members of the fairer sex, who also like the taste of the cloudy cocktail.

In any case, one thing is certain - this is a drink that consumes people even more contact and their language quickly loosens. Mastic is preferred not only by Bulgarians but also by the inhabitants of our southern neighbors Turkey and Greece, and in the former the alcoholic beverage is known by the name Yeni cancer.

Greek version of the mastic is the ouzo. In fact, other peoples around the Mediterranean like mastic. Among the population of Spain the aniseed drink is known as anisado. The Italians call it sambuca. In France, alcohol is known as ricar. However, it should not be forgotten that in different countries the type of this alcohol is not absolutely the same.

Production of mastic

This amazing drink is made after flavoring ethyl alcohol with anethole. Anethole is an essential oil. It is formed after processing of green anise, star anise and fennel. Mastic wood resin / gum is added, as well as other aromatic distillate. It is from the mastic gum that the name of the alcoholic beverage came from.

History of mastic

Mastic has a rich history. It turns out that mastic gum / resin /, from which this drink is made, was known to mankind in antiquity. According to some sources, even then the mastic gum attracted the attention of Herodotus and Hippocrates. The ancient scriptures mention the multitude healing properties of the resin. It has been used for snake bites and rabies. It has also been used successfully for skin problems. The miraculous effect of the remedy is also confirmed by the patients, who feel significantly better after its use.

Later it became clear that it has a positive effect on people suffering from diabetes. Mastic gum has a beneficial effect on asthma, stomach complaints, ulcers and more.

See if the mastic is harmful?

During the different epochs it was used for various purposes. It is interesting that with its help toothpicks were produced and some types of paints were mixed. It's considered that drink mastic originated from the island of Chios around the eighteenth century. A legend tells how it later found its way to our lands.

It is said that during World War II, Tsar Boris III helped a Greek escape the fate of a prisoner of war. He turned out to be the heir of a great man mastic manufacturer and so the king began to receive regularly a certain amount of the enchanting drink. During the Renaissance, mastic gradually managed to spread to our lands, with a significant contribution from the Turks.

Serving mastic

Mistakes are often made when serving mastic. For example, some consumers have a habit of storing drink bottles in chambers. However, according to experts, this is to their detriment, as the quality of alcohol then decreases. After such storage, the taste of the drink changes, and the crystallized anethole oil subsequently does not dissolve successfully. As a result, the taste is mostly reminiscent of alcohol. Therefore, experts recommend that the drink be poured uncooled, and then add cold water or ice cubes.

It should also be remembered that when pouring the drink into the vessel, it should not be completely filled so that the drink can be diluted with water afterwards.

In addition to good company, the mastic goes with a nice appetizer. Suitable appetizers for ouzo or pleasant additions to mastic are the traditional Shopska salad, milk salad, roasted pepper salad, kyopoolu, olive pate, smoked seafood, various types of fried fish and more. A very nice combination is mastic with watermelon.

Benefits of mastic

It is believed that in small quantities the mastic has a positive effect on the body and even helps with some complaints. Folk healers recommend recipes with mastic in the treatment of infertility. According to others, it helps treat asthma. The healing effect of mastic in part due to anise, which has the ability to reduce pain.

At the same time it is used for coughs, stomach complaints, heartburn, inflammation and kidney problems. It is believed that it can also be taken as an aphrodisiac. Anise acts as an antibiotic and kills some types of bacteria. It is also taken in the absence of appetite.

Mastic in cooking

Mastic is an alcohol that is generally used in mixing various cocktails. Among the emblematic drinks with mastic is the so-called cloud cocktail, which in addition to aniseed drink also contains mint and milk. In some places in our country the mastic is mixed with brandy. According to other bold ideals, it can be combined with rum, whiskey, cherry liqueur. However, mastic is also part of some tempting culinary specialties. It is used to flavor fish dishes, as well as beef and pork dishes.

See also what ouzo is drunk with?