Bread making was passed on to Greece from the Egyptians and then the Greeks taught the Romans how to make bread. The Ancient Greeks considered bread making an early mark of civilisation that lifted them above other people. The Romans were unfamiliar with bread until they met the Greeks. They favoured gruel (porridge). The Romans grew to love Greek bread so highly that almost all the bakers in the entire Roman Empire were Greeks. Author and chef Maria Benardis of Greekalicious shows us how to prepare this traditional bread.
Mastic (mastic the root of the verb to masticate) or “masticha” in Greek, produces an almost clear crystal edible substance. It is a type of gum that grows in one place in the world and that is the island of Chios. It is also used in the church for blessing. It is believed that the tears began to cry in sympathy when Romans tortured a Christian martyr and left him to die in a mastic grove. Herodotus however had noted their behaviour in 5th century BC, more than 7,000 centuries earlier.
Masticha is one of my favourite and treasured ingredients. I use it in most of my dishes because of its healing and therapeutic properties. I have garnished my bread with poppy seeds as the Ancient Greeks used to do.