Read the back of the packet. Make sure you know what form it is in and what the net weight is. Work out how much it costs per gram. Find out the batch number and date. Read through any big claims on the front of the packet. That takes about two minutes, and it saves you from most bad buys.
By Carl J., Owner · Last updated November 2, 2026
Which part of a mastic mastiha gum pack should you read first?
Read the back panel first. On a pack of mastic mastiha gum, the front is mostly marketing, while the back is where the facts that can be checked usually live.
Anyone searching how to read a mastic gum product label is usually staring at a busy front panel. So if you wondered how do you read a mastiha label without getting lost, try this order:
- Product name and form, so you know whether it’s raw tears, melted resin, powder or capsules.
- Net weight, which you’ll need for every comparison later.
- Producer or seller details, meaning a real business name and a way to contact it.
- Lot number and date, usually printed or stamped near the seam or base.
- Storage and use notes, such as keeping it cool or not swallowing it.
Only then flip back to the front, and see whether the bold words will match the small print. A nearly empty back panel tells you something too.
How does mastic gum labelling tell you which form you’re buying?
Good quality mastic gum labeling will tell you what type it is, as different types will have very different properties. Having a product labelled ‘Mastic’ can mean you are getting completely different products.
What usually means:
- Small tears are naturally smaller drops that soften fast, so they suit beginners.
- Medium tears are bigger and firmer, and they give a harder chew.
- Melted or fused pieces are tears pressed together, which often makes them better value by weight.
- Powder is ground resin meant for cooking or mixing, not for chewing.
- Capsules are meant to be swallowed, so they’re a supplement rather than a chew.
Use can be as important as the name. Often raw resins will have a note that they should not be ingested, whilst capsules will have a recommended daily dosage. So if you want a jaw workout, a capsule product won’t help, however nice the pack looks. Our guide to the difference between small and medium mastic tears goes deeper on tear sizes.
How can a product label decoder help you compare value?
A simple product label decoder turns the numbers on two packs into something you can compare directly. Without it, a big tin and a small tin are almost impossible to judge side by side.
Here’s how to read the key numbers, using our own tins as worked examples:
| Label line | What to work out | Worked example |
| Net weight | The real amount of resin you’re getting | 28.35 g (1 oz) tin vs 454 g (1 lb) pack |
| Price | Price per gram | $19.99 ÷ 28.35 g ≈ $0.71/g; $39.99 ÷ 454 g ≈ $0.09/g |
| Servings | Grams per serving | 28.35 g ÷ ~56 servings ≈ 0.5 g each |
| Form | Whether the comparison is fair | Tears vs melted pieces chew differently |
| Pack type | How well it keeps once opened | Resealable tin vs zip bag |
Prices are as listed on our shop page at the time of writing. The main point is the method, though. Once you divide price by grams, a “cheap” pack can turn out to be expensive, and a “pricey” one can turn out to be the better deal.
One more thing to watch: a price that looks far too low for real hand-harvested resin. That’s usually a reason to read the rest of the label twice.
What do lot numbers and dates on a pack tell you?
A lot of a number tells you which batch the resin came from, while the date tells you roughly how fresh it is. Together, they’re your best clue that the seller actually tracks what goes into each pack.
Here’s why both matter:
- Traceability. If a batch has a problem, the lot number lets the seller find every pack that came from it.
- Testing. Sellers who lab test usually test by batch, so the lot links your pack to a result.
- Freshness. Mastic slowly hardens and loses some of its pine-like aroma over time.
- Accountability. A pack with no lot and no date leaves you nothing to quote if something’s wrong.
Mastic will not go off, however the mastic with a later manufacturing date will be softer as it is fresher plus have more of a smell. If they are both the same price choose the later date.
Which claims on the front of a pack deserve a second look?
Health and beauty claims are the easiest to add but often the hardest to prove. Words such as natural, premium and clinically proven can be used without explaining what they mean.
Take “natural” as an example. The FDA’s page on the term “natural” explains that it has never set a formal definition. Its long-standing policy is simply that nothing artificial or synthetic has been added that wouldn’t normally be expected in the food. So the word tells you less than it seems to.
Medical-sounding claims need even more care. In Europe, the European Medicines Agency’s assessment of mastic recognised powdered mastic only as a traditional herbal medicine. It also found the clinical studies too small and too weak to support a “well-established use” status. In other words, bold cure-all promises go further than the official evidence does. Our article on mastic gum benefits, proven vs unproven breaks those claims down one by one.
How should you follow the storage note on the label?
Follow these guidelines when storing your mastic. The mastic can go off due to hot temperatures and air exposure. Most of the labels will tell you to store your mastic in a cool and dry place. Seal after each use and avoid direct sunlight.
This means:
- Keep the lid on after every use, so the tears don’t pick up moisture or dust.
- Avoid hot cars and sunny windowsills, since warm resin can soften and clump.
- Store it at room temperature, which is fine for everyday use.
- Don’t leave a delivery sitting in a hot mailbox during summer.
If a pack has no storage advice at all, treat that as another small gap in the labelling. We cover what happens to soft tears in hot weather in our post on how small mastic gums hold up in summer heat.
What else should you check before you order?
Before you order, check that the details on the pack match the listing you’re buying from. The weight, form and origin wording online should line up with the photos of the actual label.
People asking what to check before buying mastic gum often look only at price, but mismatches cause more trouble. A few quick checks:
- Does the listing show a clear photo of the back panel, not just the front?
- Is there a contact email or company name you could actually reach?
- Do the weight and form in the title match the label in the photo?
- Is there a refund or guarantee if the product isn’t what the label says?
Questions like what should a mastic gum label say, or what does 100 percent mastiha mean, are answered in the FAQs below. The same goes for the mastiha packaging terms you’ll see most often. For a step-by-step look at spotting fakes, our guide to authentic Chios mastic gum covers the warning signs, and our piece on mastiha vs mastic naming explains why the two names appear on the same resin.
Frequently asked questions
1. What mastic gum label terms actually mean
The majority of what is written will relate to the following: Pistacia lentiscus is the scientific name for the mastic tree. Var. Chia means it is a variety of mastic tree that grows on Chios. Mastiha and mastic are just the Greek and English names for the resin. Hand cleaned means that after harvesting the droplets have been sorted and cleaned by hand. Lab tested means that a batch has been tested for purity.
2. What must a label state?
At a minimum the label should tell you what the product is, how much there is and who is supplying it. This will be the product name, the net weight (in grams/ounces) and the name of the company. Many high quality labels will also tell you what the ingredient is, where it is from, the batch number and how to store it. Without knowing any of the first 3 it is difficult to hold anyone responsible.
3. What does 100% mastiha mean?
This means that there should only be mastic resin in the pack. A pure product will only have 1 ingredient listed. The ingredient will most likely be the resin from the Pistacia lentiscus tree. This on its own will not tell you the grade, tear size or exactly where it is from. However if read with the ingredient and origin statements it will make sense.
4. Are additives ever listed?
Additives will be included if present. This will be listed under ingredients. Pure resin products will only have 1 ingredient listed. However capsules often have fillers or anti-caking agents. Chewing gums flavoured with mastic will usually have a gum base, sweeteners and flavourings. If you want pure resin then look for a product that only has 1 ingredient listed.
5. What does PDO on a label mean?
PDO stands for Protected Designation of Origin. This is an EU regulation meaning that the product name relates to where it is from. Mastic with the PDO will have been produced on the Greek island of Chios using the regulations set out by the PDO. Products with the PDO statement or logo are claiming to be protected. Mastic from anywhere else cannot legally use the protected name Chios in the EU.
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Titans Jaw
Email: support@titansjaw.us
Pure Chios mastic gum in small tears, medium tears and melted form, independently lab tested for purity and shipped in resealable tins.
This article is general information, not medical or dental advice. If you have jaw pain or a jaw condition, please speak with a dentist or doctor.
