Ground Mastic

Ground mastic is the dried resin of the mastic tree, crushed into a fine powder. It has a distinctive pine-like, slightly sweet aroma and is a familiar flavour in Lebanese and Middle Eastern kitchens. A small pinch is enough to scent milk puddings such as mhallabieh, traditional stretchy ice cream, ashta and rice pudding. It is also added to sweet breads, ka'ak and holiday pastries, and some cooks use it when boiling chicken or meat for broth. Because the resin can be sticky, it is often ground together with a little sugar before use. You can find ground mastic on the shelf at Dekenet Al Nes in Baaqline, in the Chouf, a package-free grocery store where customers are encouraged to bring their own containers and refill the essentials they need.