Basic Information
Arabic Name
شعشوب
Arabic name (Latin Transliteration)
Shaashoub
English Name
Mastic tree
Scientific Name
Pistacia lentiscus
Family
Anacardiaceae (cashew family)
Habitat
"Open woods and scrubs on dry hillsides -- Cannot grow in the shade, requires dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought **Europe and the Mediterranean region
"
Locality
N/A
Seasonality
Indigenous Knowledge
N/A
Edible Portions
Young leaves and leaf buds
Modes Of Consumption
Leaves are eaten as a raw snack; in yoghurt salad; or with garlic, oil, kishik and olives; A sweet liquorice-flavoured resin, called 'mastic', is obtained from incisions made into the bark of the trunk, but not into the wood. It is chewed to strengthen the gums and as a breath sweetener but it is also used as a flavoring in puddings, and sweets.
