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Mastichochoria Μαστιχοχώρια
Municipal unit
Central square of Pyrgi
MastichochoriaLocation within the regional unit
Coordinates: 38°15′N 25°59′E / 38.250°N 25.983°E / 38.250; 25.983
Country	Greece
Administrative region	North Aegean
Regional unit	Chios
Municipality	Chios
Area
• Municipal unit	211.7 km (81.7 sq mi)
Population
• Municipal unit	3,384
• Municipal unit density	16/km (41/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+2 (EET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+3 (EEST)
Vehicle registration	ΧΙ

Mastichochoria (Greek: Μαστιχοχώρια, Greek pronunciation: [mastixoˈxorʝʲa], 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. Its population was 3,384 at the 2021 census. The seat of the municipality was Pyrgi (Πυργί). The next largest villages are Kalamotí (Καλαμωτń), Armólia (Αρμόλια), Mestá (Μεστά), and Lithí (Λιθί). The small coastal village of Emporeios (Εμπορειός) 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 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.

Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association

Founded in 1938, the Chios Gum Mastic Growers Association (Greek: Ένωση Μαστιχοπαραγωγών Χίου), abbreviated CGMGA, is a cooperative organisation and acts as the collective representative organ of twenty primary cooperatives totalling nearly 5000 members in the twenty-four villages of southern Chios. It has the exclusive management of Chios mastika in Greece and abroad. Its international equivalent in French is the Union des Producteurs de Gomme Mastic de Chios.

The organisation is mainly involved with the management of the agricultural production, supporting local growers, stimulating research, and providing legal assistance.

The CGMGA has a Board of Directors consists of nine members. Three members are permanent: these are the Director of the Agricultural Service, the technical supervisor of the ATE bank and the Commissioner of NCGAC. The other six board positions are elected.

List of mastic villages

• Mesta
• Olimpi
• Pyrgi
• Armolia
• Kalamoti
• Patrika
• Kini
• Vouno
• Nenita
• Katarraktis
• Kallimassia
• Messa Didima
• Ekso Didima
• Mirmigi
• Tholopotami
• Agios Georgios
• Vessa
• Elata
• Lithi
• Neochorio

Museum of Mastic

On 11 June 2016, the Chios Mastic Museum opened its doors in Rachi, on the southern part of Chios in the region of the Mastichochoria. It offers a permanent exhibition about mastiha production on the island, explaining its history and cultivation techniques as well as demonstrating its different uses today.

Historical events

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.

References

1. "Αποτελέσματα Απογραφής Πληθυσμού - Κατοικιών 2021, Μόνιμος Πληθυσμός κατά οικισμό" [Results of the 2021 Population - Housing Census, Permanent population by settlement] (in Greek). Hellenic Statistical Authority. 29 March 2024.
2. "ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities" (in Greek). Government Gazette.
3. "Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation)" (PDF) (in Greek). National Statistical Service of Greece. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-21.
4. Belles, Christos (2005). Mastiha Island. Athens: Ellinika Gramatta Press. pp. 212–13. ISBN 978-960-89048-9-7.
5. "Mastiha Growers Association". www.gummastic.gr. Retrieved 2016-06-20.
6. Belles, Christos (2005). Mastiha Island. Athens: Ellinika Gramatta Press. pp. 210–11. ISBN 978-960-89048-9-7.
7. Belles, Christos (2005). Mastiha Island. Athens: Ellinika Gramatta Press. p. 213. ISBN 978-960-89048-9-7.
8. Evgenia Choros. "Chios Mastic Museum Opened Its Doors on June 11th". Retrieved 2016-06-21.
9. "The Chios Mastiha Museum". Retrieved 2016-06-21.

External links

• Mastichochoria - official website
• pictures from Mastichochoria in Panoramio website

• Populated places in Chios
• Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity