When to come to Chios

Η Χίος είναι ένα νήσι που προσφέρεται για επίσκεψη όλες τις εποχές του χρόνου. Το καλοκαίρι η βασική δραστηριότητα μπορεί να είναι το κολύμπι στις παραλίες, όμως για τους ντόπιους είναι η εποχή εντατικής καλλιέργειας του μαστιχόδεντρου. Θα έχετε την ευκαρία λοιπόν παράλληλα με τις βουτιές σας να γνωρίσετε τα μυστικά της μαστίχας. Επίσης θα έχετε την ευκαιρία να χορέψετε και να γλεντήσετε σε ένα από τα πολλά πανυγήρια στις πλατείες των χωριών.

Locals keep themselves busy with agricultural work throughout the year. That also goes for Masticulture. How do you make souma and tsipouro? What is the oxidization of olive oil? How do you clean mastic? How can you tell if mushrooms are poisonous? That's autumn in Mesta!

And for your winter holidays we recommend that you avoid snow chains and traffic jams and try something completely different: Our winters are mild, perfect for excursions out in the open air and warm encounters with locals who dedicate this season to cleaning mastic and assembling at the coffee houses during nightfall. If you wish you can also accompany them in the morning when they prune their olive trees and mastic trees and be ‘rewarded' by saying goodbye armed with firewood for your bedroom's fireplace.

If you prefer to visit in spring, on Clean Monday we set up a popular courthouse in the village square, and at Easter when nature thrives we celebrate through various colourful traditions. You can gather fragrant herbs and come across beautiful ‘lalades', the local tulips, or the island's graceful orchids.

All this is achieved with the tender care and attention of Roula and Vassili together with their friends, the people of Masticulture from Mesta.