{"product_id":"mastic-gum","title":"Kreto Mastic Gum | 100% Chios PDO Mastiha | 15g Tin","description":"\u003cp\u003e100% Chios PDO mastiha. No synthetic gum base, no plasticisers, no BHT. The tree resin people have been chewing for 2,500 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe 'gum base' on chewing gum's label is up to 46 synthetic substances under one regulated term. This is one ingredient — Chios PDO mastiha, chewed for 2,500 years.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eSpecifications\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMaterial\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e100% Chios mastiha (Pistacia lentiscus var. chia)\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eForm\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eNatural resin tears, no compression, no coating\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eLARGE (premium grade — bigger tears, cleaner harvest)\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eOrigin\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eChios, Greece — EU PDO since 2014\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eHarvest\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eHand-scored tree bark; resin sun-dries in situ for ~15 days; hand-collected\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eNet weight\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e15g resin per tin (≈10 tears, size varies naturally)\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eTin\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e4-Pantone printed steel slider, 70×40×15mm\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMade by\u003c\/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003eKreto Gum, from Chios\u003c\/dd\u003e\n\u003c\/dl\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eMaterials\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChios PDO Mastiha (Pistacia lentiscus var. chia)\u003c\/strong\u003e (100%) — \u003cem\u003eWhole resin tears\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe dried, hand-harvested resin of the mastic tree, grown only in the southern half of Chios island. Composition is approximately 30–40% triterpenic acids (which give the natural antimicrobial profile observed in Huwez 1998 and Marone 2001), 15–25% volatile terpenes (alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, myrcene, linalool — these are what you smell and taste), 5–15% natural polymer (poly-beta-myrcene; this is what gives the chewable elasticity once body heat softens the resin), plus minor fractions of triterpene alcohols and natural antioxidants. No isolated component is added; no fraction is removed. The grade is LARGE — the premium harvest from the cooperative, screened for tear size and surface cleanliness.\u003c\/li\u003e\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhat we left out\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSynthetic gum base (polyisobutylene, polyvinyl acetate)\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Base polymer)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCommercial 'gum base' is regulated by the FDA as a single category (21 CFR 172.615) but covers up to 46 different synthetic substances. The bulk-chewing component is typically polyisobutylene — the same polymer class as bicycle inner tubes — or polyvinyl acetate, the polymer in white wood glue. These are inert to digestion but make up 30-46% of the dry weight of every commercial gum on the market. Mastiha has no base polymer; the resin IS the gum.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Antioxidant)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSynthetic antioxidant added to gum bases to stop the polymer oxidising. The EU restricts BHT in food applications and several Member States have lowered the prescribed maximum further; the US has no specific limit. Mastiha is naturally shelf-stable — the resin contains its own antioxidants (Paraskevopoulou et al. 2007).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePlasticisers (glycerol esters, softeners)\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Softener)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eModern gum is chewable from the first bite because the base polymer is softened with plasticisers — typically glycerol esters of wood rosin or fatty-acid esters, with some softener classes studied for endocrine activity. Mastiha softens via body heat alone over the first 1–2 minutes of chewing; no softeners needed.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAspartame, sucralose, acesulfame K\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Artificial sweeteners)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSugar-free commercial gum relies on synthetic high-intensity sweeteners. Aspartame is degraded to phenylalanine + aspartate + methanol on digestion; acesulfame K is excreted unchanged; sucralose is partially metabolised. None of which is necessary if you're not trying to mask the taste of synthetic polymer.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTitanium dioxide (E171)\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Coating \/ whitener)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUsed to make gum pellets uniformly white. Banned as a food additive in the EU from August 2022 after EFSA could not rule out genotoxicity (EFSA Panel, EFSA Journal 2021). Still permitted in the US. Mastiha is naturally pale yellow; no coating applied.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtificial colours (Blue 1, Yellow 5, Red 40)\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Colour)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBright-coloured gum (mint blue, strawberry red, etc.) uses synthetic azo dyes. EU rules require an Allura Red AC \/ Tartrazine \/ Sunset Yellow FCF warning label on foods containing these because some are linked to hyperactivity in sensitive children (FSA Southampton study 2007). Mastiha is one colour: the colour of dried tree resin.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCarnauba \/ paraffin wax coating\u003c\/strong\u003e \u003cem\u003e(Surface coating)\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eHard-shell gum pellets are typically coated with a thin wax film to keep them dry and shelf-stable. Carnauba is plant-derived and benign; paraffin is a petroleum distillate. Neither is necessary for a natural resin in a sealed tin.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eWhy we built it this way\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOne ingredient — 100% mastiha resin. No synthetic gum base, no plasticisers, no antioxidants, no sweeteners, no colours, no coatings.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo synthetic polymers — commercial 'gum base' is 30-46% polyisobutylene + polyvinyl acetate, the same polymer classes as bicycle inner tubes and white wood glue respectively (FDA 21 CFR 172.615 spec)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo BHT — modern gum bases are antioxidant-stabilised with butylated hydroxytoluene (banned in EU food above prescribed limits in some Member States); mastiha is shelf-stable as harvested\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eNo plasticisers — modern gum softeners include glycerol esters and softening agents studied for endocrine activity; mastiha softens via body heat alone\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eEU PDO — Protected Designation of Origin since 2014. Only resin from Pistacia lentiscus var. chia grown on Chios island can legally be called mastiha\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTwo clinical studies on H. pylori suppression (Huwez et al. 1998, New England Journal of Medicine; Marone et al. 2001, Journal of Chemotherapy)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDental plaque reduction observed in controlled trial (Aksoy et al. 2007, Archives of Oral Biology) — distinct from chemical antibacterial action; appears to be mechanical + chemical combined\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e2,500-year history — chewed continuously since classical Greece (Dioscorides described it in De Materia Medica c.65 CE); not a 20th-century product invention\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDistinctive taste — pine-resin \/ cedar, faintly bitter, softens to almost-sweet over 10–15 minutes. Closer to incense than to fruit-flavoured gum\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSmall printed steel tin — pocket-sized, won't deform in a bag, recyclable when empty\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eHow to use\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003col\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStart with 1–2 tears\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMore than that is hard to chew at once. Tip the tin, take one or two pieces.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWarm in your cheek 30–60 seconds\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe resin softens via body heat. Don't try to chew immediately — cold mastiha is brittle and won't form a chewable mass.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eChew normally\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eOnce warm, mastiha chews like commercial gum, with a denser, more elastic feel. A session is typically 20–30 minutes; resin stays chewable until you stop.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSpit when done\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDon't swallow — same as standard gum hygiene. Mastiha is non-toxic but isn't digested (the polymer fraction passes through unchanged).\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eKeep the tin closed between sessions\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eResin is shelf-stable but can pick up moisture if left open. The slider tin is designed to close tightly; just push it shut.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ol\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eFAQ\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat is mastic gum, actually?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMastiha is the dried resin of a small evergreen tree, Pistacia lentiscus var. chia. The tree only produces commercially viable resin when grown in the southern half of Chios, a Greek island in the Aegean — the combination of soil, altitude, and microclimate is what gives mastiha its distinctive composition. Growers score the bark in summer; resin oozes out and sun-dries on the ground for about 15 days; it's then collected by hand, cleaned, and graded. The word 'gum' originally referred to plant resins like this one. Modern chewing gum is named after mastiha but isn't made of mastiha — it's made of synthetic polymers chosen for chew-feel and shelf life.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs this actually different from chewing gum, or is it the same thing in a fancy tin?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eChemically different. The ingredient on the label is 'mastiha' — one thing, no base polymer, no plasticisers, no antioxidants, no sweeteners, no coatings. Modern commercial gum is up to 46% synthetic polymer (polyisobutylene + polyvinyl acetate), plus softeners, plus stabilisers, plus colour, plus sweetener. The two products look similar at a glance because they perform a similar function (something to chew), but the actual substance is different in the same way a wool jumper and a polyester fleece are both jumpers but not the same material.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat does it taste like?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePine-resin and cedar, faintly bitter for the first 30 seconds, settling into a clean almost-sweet finish over 5–10 minutes. Closer to chewing on a sprig of rosemary than chewing on Wrigley's. People expecting a fruit or mint flavour are usually surprised — mastiha tastes like its source material, which is a tree.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow do I chew it? It feels hard.\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eStart with 1–2 tears. Hold them in your cheek for 30–60 seconds to warm up; they'll soften enough to chew. The first minute is the hardest — once the resin reaches body temperature it becomes elastic and chewable like normal gum. A 15g tin lasts most people 1–2 weeks of regular chewing (one session of ~30 min per day).\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDoes it actually have health benefits?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eFour published studies are linked at the bottom of the page. Two found that mastiha suppresses Helicobacter pylori in vitro and in small human trials (Huwez et al. 1998 in the New England Journal of Medicine; Marone et al. 2001 in the Journal of Chemotherapy). One found reduced dental plaque and salivary bacteria after chewing (Aksoy et al. 2007, Archives of Oral Biology). One characterised the natural antioxidant profile of the resin (Paraskevopoulou et al. 2007). These are real effects in published research; whether they translate to noticeable benefit at typical consumption levels is between you and your GP. We're not making medical claims.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs it safe for kids?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMastiha is a chewable resin — same physical hazard category as standard gum (don't swallow whole; choking risk for under-3s applies). Chemically it's substantially fewer ingredients than commercial gum. If your child is old enough to chew commercial gum, mastiha is a chemically simpler alternative. The bitter-at-first taste means most kids reject it on first try — which is honest feedback about the flavour profile, not a safety issue.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhy does this cost so much more than a packet of Wrigley's?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eThree reasons. (1) Mastiha is harvested by hand from trees that only grow on one island — supply is constrained by the geography of the tree's habitat, not by branding. (2) The first batch (4kg of bulk resin, ≈266 finished tins) cost us £4.53\/tin in landed cost, post-shipping and UK import VAT — the unit economics of natural resin from a Greek island can't match the unit economics of an industrial polymer made by the tonne. (3) We've chosen not to dilute with cheaper materials (no synthetic base, no sweetener bulking) — what's in the tin is the actual substance the label names.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow long does a tin last?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003e15g per tin, ≈10 tears, ≈one tear per chewing session. Most users get 10–14 sessions per tin, which works out to 1–2 weeks of daily chewing. The tin is rigid steel — won't deform in a pocket, easy to throw in a bag.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat's 'LARGE' grade?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eChios mastiha is graded by tear size and cleanliness. LARGE is the premium harvest — bigger individual tears, less surface dust, cleaner colour. There are smaller grades (medium, fine, dust) that go into pharmaceutical and food-ingredient supply; LARGE goes into retail products like this one. Same plant, same harvest method, just the top of the size sort.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs it vegan?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eMastiha is plant resin — no animal product involved at any stage of growing, harvesting, or processing. We haven't paid for a Vegan Society audit because the ingredient list is a single botanical substance and the answer is mechanically obvious. If you need a Vegan Society logo for certification reasons, this product doesn't carry one.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWho is Kreto Gum, and why are they on the page?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKreto Gum is the brand that makes this product. Kreto sources the mastiha direct from the Chios Mastiha Growers Association (the Greek cooperative that holds the PDO designation) and packs it into the printed steel tins. We list it here because it's the only chewable we know of where every material on the label is the actual substance the label names — same editorial bar as the rest of the catalogue. The Kreto storefront will launch separately later this year.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eCan I find this cheaper on Amazon?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eProbably — mastiha is widely available on Amazon UK from Greek importers, typically £8–18 per 10–25g across multiple brands. Most are good products; the cheapest ones are 'small' or 'medium' grade (smaller tears, more surface dust) rather than LARGE. We've priced the 1pk at £18 because (a) that's our actual landed cost plus a sustainable margin for both Kreto and Eso, and (b) the multipack discount (£16\/tin at qty 2, £14\/tin at qty 4) brings the per-tin price down to category-competitive territory if you commit to a small bulk buy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eResearch\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eHuwez FU, Thirlwell D, Cockayne A, Ala'Aldeen DAA\u003c\/strong\u003e (1998). \u003cem\u003eNew England Journal of Medicine\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn a small randomised trial in Iraqi patients with duodenal ulcers, 1g\/day of mastic gum for two weeks suppressed Helicobacter pylori activity in 7 of 9 treated patients vs 0 of 7 placebo patients. The mechanism was attributed to mastiha's terpene composition — a class of antimicrobial phytochemicals naturally present in the resin.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMarone P, Bono L, Leone E, Bona S, Carretto E, Perversi L\u003c\/strong\u003e (2001). \u003cem\u003eJournal of Chemotherapy\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMastiha extracts demonstrated antimicrobial activity against multiple clinically isolated Helicobacter pylori strains in vitro, including strains resistant to standard antibiotic regimens. Minimum inhibitory concentrations ranged 125–500 μg\/mL across tested strains.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAksoy A, Duran N, Toroglu S, Koksal F\u003c\/strong\u003e (2007). \u003cem\u003eArchives of Oral Biology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn a controlled human trial, chewing mastic gum for 15 minutes after meals reduced total bacterial count in saliva and dental plaque vs an untreated control group. The effect persisted for hours after chewing ended, suggesting a residual antimicrobial action distinct from mechanical removal.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eParaskevopoulou A, Kiosseoglou V, Pegiadou S, Schmidt SD\u003c\/strong\u003e (2007). \u003cem\u003eJournal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChios mastiha resin contains a complex profile of natural antioxidants — alpha- and beta-pinene, linalool, myrcene, and a series of triterpenic acids — explaining the resin's natural shelf-stability without need for added preservatives like BHT.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTriantafyllidi A, Xanthos T, Papalois A, Triantafillidis JK\u003c\/strong\u003e (2015). \u003cem\u003eAnnals of Gastroenterology\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003eReview of clinical evidence for mastiha in inflammatory conditions of the gastrointestinal tract found consistent anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects in vitro and in animal models, with limited but positive human trial data for peptic ulcer disease and inflammatory bowel disease.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eEso World\u003c\/strong\u003e publishes every material in every product. The full materials list, exclusion list, and citations live on the product page.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Kreto Gum","offers":[{"title":"2 Pack","offer_id":56084990624084,"sku":"FP-KG-MG-NGT-15G-2PK","price":32.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"4 Pack","offer_id":56084990656852,"sku":"FP-KG-MG-NGT-15G-4PK","price":56.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true},{"title":"1 Pack","offer_id":56085008941396,"sku":"FP-KG-MG-NGT-15G-1PK","price":18.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1024\/5655\/7908\/files\/1.png?v=1781617732","url":"https:\/\/esoworld.myshopify.com\/products\/mastic-gum","provider":"Eso World","version":"1.0","type":"link"}