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How viruses shape our world. The era of greyhound racing in the U. See how people have imagined life on Mars through history. See More. Something you need daily in Greece to drink your frappe ice coffee , fresh fruit smoothie or cocktail! Do you want to immerse yourself in the Greek language and grow your reading and listening skills?
This eBook contains the entire Greek text of the English translation here above, as well as another 8 texts, all related to Greece and Greek culture. On top of that, the Audio-mp3 files are included, so you can listen to a native Greek speaker while improving your listening skills in Greek.
The eBook is perfect to improve your reading and listening skills, especially if you are an intermediate-advanced student. Ready to read the entire article in Greek, and listen to the Greek Audio-file? Then click here for more info about the eBook. Contact info omilo. From the ancient times until today, little has changed in the mastic production process, which unbreakably connects it to the historical tradition of Southern Chios.
The mastic tree is a rather resilient plant with minor demands, that is why it grows well on arid, rocky and poor soil. Its roots are spread on the surface of the soil and can survive in conditions of absolute drought. On the other hand be extremely sensitive to cold and frost. The preparation of the mastic tree starts in winter with pruning the trees branches, thus giving the tree a shape suitable for getting under it.
Ploughing is mostly done in order to clean the field from weed, at a depth of about 10cm because the roots of the mastic tree are just below the surface of the soil. Around June is carried out the levelling and cleaning of the perimeter around the trunk of the tree, where the mastic will fall.
The incisions are done in weekly stages and total , depending on the age and size of the tree, through a week period. From these incisions the mastic resin will come out in liquid drops that often look like tears.
Most of the mastic drips to the ground on the white soil and should stay there for days until is dry enough to be collected. Mastic collection starts usually mid August, with the work starting again very early in the morning.
The larger pieces are collected along with dust, tree leaves and small stones from the ground. They are spread in large wooden pans and taken in to the growers house to be stored in a dry and cool place.
The cleaning of mastic is a laborious task which starts November. Usually all the family participates and the cleaning process lasts throughout the winter period. Mastic is washed and then the larger pieces are manually cleaned one by one with a small pointed knife. Shopping cart close. Info Info. This is probably because of the soil composition and the especially warm and dry microclimate.
Mastic is a natural, aromatic resinous sap, shaped in tears, which fall on the ground as drops, from superficial scratches induced on the trunk and main branches of the tree by the growers. After being hardened, it has a crystal appearance and is subsequently harvested and washed by the cultivators. Chios mastic is ivory coloured at first; nevertheless, owing to oxidation, it is transformed into more yellow hues months later.
Interestingly, the resin consists of approximately 80 identified components, which somehow justify its numerous uses around the globe, in the food, health and cosmetic sector. It is worthwhile noting that the production process of mastic has survived literally untouched by time, undeniably linking it to the historical tradition of Chios island.
The cultivation and production of Chios mastic is a family matter and is in fact labour and attention demanding all year round. Briefly, the growers take care of tree fertilization in December, of branch pruning in mid-January and during February, and subsequently, soil cleaning and levelling occur from mid-June to early July, to safeguard that mastic which may fall on the ground can be easily picked up.
Then the soil is swept accordingly and a white powder containing calcium carbonate is spread on the ground. In mid-August the first harvesting takes place, with the larger tears to be gathered first and the others by hand or by brooming.
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