“Adopt a Mastic Tree” and the Global Journey of Chios Mastiha

Two years ago, Lenia Ziglaki launched a project with the goal of promoting Chios mastiha and preserving the traditions connected to its cultivation for future generations.

As she shared with Εθνικός Κήρυξ, nearly two years after launching the initiative “Adopt a Mastic Tree from Chios,” the project continues to grow thanks to the support of people from around the world.

The initiative was created to help more people discover the value, history, and cultivation process of Chios mastiha while actively participating in keeping this tradition alive.

Today, people from 22 countries across Asia, Europe, Africa, America, and Australia have adopted mastic trees and receive regular updates about the cultivation and progress of their tree throughout the year.

Chios mastiha has been recognized as a protected product by the European Union and UNESCO, highlighting its uniqueness and cultural importance. Every tear of mastiha is collected through a demanding and deeply traditional cultivation process passed down through generations.

Lenia Ziglaki and Georgios Konstantellias chose to dedicate themselves professionally to the cultivation of mastic and olive trees while building this initiative to give people the opportunity to connect with the tradition through adoption.

Through the program, adopters receive a certificate of adoption, fifty grams of natural Chios mastiha, and a personalized photograph of their tree with a specially designed name plaque.

Visitors also have the opportunity to travel to Chios, visit their tree in person, and experience the cultivation cycle and traditions surrounding mastiha firsthand.

Reflecting on the journey, Lenia expressed her gratitude to Εθνικός Κήρυξ, saying that the publication became one of the first voices to support and share the vision of the initiative with the wider world during its earliest steps.