The Mastiha tree
The mastiha tree, or schinos (Pistacia lentiscus var. Chia), is an evergreen shrub that grows 2–3 meters high. It takes 5 years from planting to produce its first Mastiha tears, and 40–50 years to reach its final form.
New plantations come from branches of older trees, known as cuttings, while older plantations are renewed through shoots or layering. The tree and its family are also found in other Mediterranean countries. However, for reasons that have not yet been documented, it produces its rare Mastiha exclusively in Chios