What is mastic?

Question

I thought this was similar to glue, how and why is it used in cooking and is it safe?

thank you

Answer 1

no its Arabic gum and we use it in desserts and everything like that also we use it in bukhoor for incense's.  Yes, its very safe..

Answer 2

It is safe.Used for many purposes. Check the links below for more info.  I was lucky to be born there.

Answer 3

the only mastic i know is mastic used on buildings sorry to say if you know different tell the i and i cheers.

Answer 4

Mastic (Pistacia lentiscus) is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the Pistacio family growing up to 13 ft tall, which is cultivated for its aromatic resin on the Greek island of Chios,. It is native throughout the Mediterranean region, from Morocco and Iberia in the west through southern France and Turkey to Syria and Palestine in the east; it is also native on the Canary Islands.

Mastic gum is principally used either as a flavouring or for its gum properties, as in mastic chewing gum.

As a spice, it continues to be used in Greece to flavour spirits and liquors (such as Chios's native drinks of Mastichato & mastica), chewing gum and a number of cakes, pastries, spoon sweets and desserts. Mastic resin is a key ingredient in Dondurma (Turkish ice cream), and Turkish puddings granting those confections its unusual texture and bright whiteness. In Lebanon and Egypt, the spice is used to flavour many sauces, ranging from soups to meats to desserts, while in Morocco smoke from the resin is used to flavour water. Recently, a Mastic flavoured fizzy drink has also been launched.

As well as its culinary uses, Mastic continues to be used for its gum and medicinal properties. The resin is used as a primary ingredient in the production of cosmetics such as toothpaste, lotions for the hair and skin, and perfumes.

Answer 5

Actually, it is a gum from a Medeterranian tree that was the original chewing gum and it is used to hold the lemon and pices to the surface of the meat for Donner Kebob!  Here is all the information you want...maybe even more information than you want!