Grow Your Own Magazine

When I spent time in Greece I used to buy mastic for biscuits and breads. It was a gum of some kind, slightly opaque like quartz, and came in crumbly packets. Has anyone heard of it or used it in baking - do you know where I could find it in the UK? Feel a bikkie urge coming on

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SSx
not every situation requires a big onion

Did you use it as a stabiliser/emulsifier SS? I've heard of gum mastic being used as a fixative in pot pourri blends but never in cooking. Intrigued. Have you tried Xanthan Gum instead, available in Tescos/healthfood shops etc.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Thank you earthbabe, it's a pungent gum, like asafoetida, not the purely emulsifying kind. A very special taste!

Of course you got me googling and ta-daaaa! Wikipedia has details of what it is, where it grows, and how to use it!

Now going googling in delis to see if someone stocks it online. Thank you for the nudge!

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SSx
not every situation requires a big onion

the only mastic I know is used for sealing windows

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ntg

Never be afraid to try something new.
Remember that a lone amateur built the Ark.
A large group of professionals built the Titanic

http://grief-encounters.blogspot.com/

I presume this is the same stuff listed at the top.

http://www.baldwins.co.uk/perl/go.pl/shop/shop.html

Seems rather expensive for cooking with though.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

Beat me to it Nic!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Or Bitu..........mastic?

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

He he he well you do use it in tiny amounts in cooking earthbabe, like salt! Well done finding it. It looks like I'd have to sponge off friends visiting Greece, either that or go to a US distributor who will send me a little jar. On the wait list

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SSx
not every situation requires a big onion

No probs SS

If I find it any cheaper I'll let you know.

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Bright Blessings
Earthbabe
If at first you don't succeed, open a bottle of wine.

A guy on ebay sells the stuff from Chios

Mastic

not cheap though.

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Manda.

"Wouldn't it be nice
For maybe an hour
To not have a care."

Thank you sbp, you're a star!
Bought a packet - it will go a loooong way, and the crystals last a long time

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SSx
not every situation requires a big onion

Hi everyone, Im new lovely community.
The mastica (dont know what it is exactly) can be found in shepherds bush market,w12. We use it in biscuits and cakes too, and we crumble it into a powder and sprinkle on hot coals gives a beautiful aroma.It is also used in perfumes and used as a natural deodrant. Never used it in cooking savoury though.