Mastichochoria (Greek: Mastichochoria, lit. "the Mastic Villages") is an agricultural area in the Greek island of Chios. It is the most prominent producer of the mastic, a resin obtained from the domesticated mastic tree (Pistacia Lentiscus var. Chia); in fact, it is widely believed that it is the resin's only source in the whole planet.
Mastichochoria (Greek: Μαστιχοχώρια, lit. "the mastic villages" in English) is a former municipality on the island of Chios (Χίος), North Aegean, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Chios, of which it is a municipal unit. It is located in the southwestern and extreme southern part of the island. It is the largest municipal unit in land area on Chios at 211.687 km<sup>2</sup>. Its population was 3,672 at the 2001 census. The seat of the municipality was Pyrgi (Πυργί) (pop. 755). The next largest villages are Kalamotí (Καλαμωτń) (569), Armólia (Αρμόλια)(442), Mestá (Μεστά) (337), and Lithío (Λιθί) (397). The small coastal village of Emporeios (Εμποριού)(47) boasts an archaeological site.
This area is well known for the production of mastic, from which it derives its name. Mastic is the hardened resin of the mastic tree and is almost only harvested on Chios, being a major part of the local economy. In the village of Pyrgi, there is even a small Museum of Mastic.
Within the European Union, Chios mastika, a mastic-flavoured liqueur has a protected designation of origin. The island's mastic production is controlled by a co-operative of medieval villages. The local producers are united under the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association.
In the Chios Massacre of 1822, during the Ottoman rule of Chios, the people of Mastichochoria were spared as their survival was the foundation of the island's continued prosperity (and the tax proceeds it remitted to Constantinople).
In 2012 the Mastichochoria and its trees were threatened by a wildfire that broke out in the southern part of the island.
About 35 minutes from Chios city. The road is twisty and steep, with speed limits going as low as 40 km/h. Thankfully, this is only some portions of the road of the road, compared to its traffic. Taxi is also available, though more expensive.
The village of Mesta has a ferry from Piraeus, though service is extremely limited.
KTEL Chios offers routes from the city of Chios towards Pyrgi via Tholopotámion and Armólia about 3 times a day. It costs about 2 to 5 euros.
All villages are connected by road.
Due to the small population, there are very few buses around the villages, apart from Mesta to Olymbi, from Pyrgi to Komi and from Pyrgi to Armolia. If you don't have any personal vehicle, you can use a taxi or even walk where it is possible.
Nearly 3/4 of the region is covered by sea, and, since it is generally sunny, it has several beaces, the most notable being the beach of Mavra Volia (Black rocks, also known as Mavros Gialos). Instead of sand, it has some black volcanic rocks.
Apart from beaches, there's also a museum deticated on the mastic outside Pyrgi. Here, apart from the exhibitions, you can see an old woman from Mesta sings a traditional song about the mastic.
There's also a cave in the village of Olymbi and the Apollichnon caslte near Armolia.
If you are blessed to go here from early summer to mid autumn, you'll be able to witness the mastic cultivation in first person. You can see how the resin is harvested and how it is prepared to be sold.
There must be souvenir shops, especially in touristy villages like Pyrgi. Some shops also sell mastic cosmetics, but be carefull for possibly pseudoscienctific claims about its benefits (Though mastic is good for you, there's limited scientific evidence about its benefits and the locals might not care about drawbacks)
Of course, mastic is edible and very prominent on desserts. The "ypovrychio" (lit. "underwater") is a spoon dessert with mastic. Dondurma ice cream also has mastic and is sold in Greece as "Kaimaki".
Mastic is also made into chewing gums, sold as "ELMA".
A liqueur is made from Mastic and also enjoys a PDO status. The traditional local ouzo spirit drink also have mastic.
Hotels up to 3 stars can be found on areas close to beaches. Studio appartments and renting villas are found elsewhere
North of Mastichochoria, there is another agricultural area called "Kambos", where citrus fruits are mainly grown.