Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
January,   19 17. 
} 
A  Letter  from  the  Orient. 
7 
To  Xo.  2  (350  c.c.)  add  10  grams  powdered  sugar.  This  is 
Raki  or  Rakee,  the  drink  known  also  as  Mastic. 
After  this  process,  the  drink  subsequently  is  continuously  made 
as  follows : 
Mix  Xo.  1  (250  c.c.)  with  Xo.  3  (160  c.c.)  and  add  water,  90 
c.c. ;  alcohol  (35  per  cent.)  500  c.c. ;  aniseed  oil  1.25  gm. ;  gum  mastic 
7.5  gm. ;  and  potassium  carbonate  3  gm. 
Distill  as  before,  the  second  portion  (350  c.c.)  constituting  Raki. 
Thus  the  process  may  be  continued  indefinitely,  the  second  fraction 
of  distillate  being  reserved  for  use. 
The  inferior  grades  of  mastic  are  utilized  in  making  this  drink, 
of  which  300,000  litres  are  estimated  as  the  yearly  output. 
Raki  or  Mastic  is  a  colorless,  transparent  liquid,  of  a  pleasant, 
aromatic,  anise-mastic  flavor.  The  drinker  does  not  take  it  clear, 
but  adds  to  it  about  one  third  its  bulk  of  water,  which  by  precipita- 
tion of  the  volatile  oils,  turns  the  mixture  milky.  Owing  to  its 
strong  alcoholic  composition,  this  drink  is  used  in  moderation,  but  to 
Americans  it  does  not  appeal.  It  reminded  me  of  paregoric,  rather 
than  of  a  grateful  cordial. 
Confection  of  Mastic. — A  much-prized  confection  of  mastic  is 
prepared  by  making  a  syrup  of  sugar,  and  when  it  is  reduced  by 
boiling  to  a  very  thick  consistence,  stirring  into  it  a  sufficient  amount 
of  powdered  mastic3  to  flavor  it.  This  produces  a  stiff  confection 
of  a  pearly  white  color,  that  I  was  informed  is  especially  a  favorite 
with  the  Greeks.  It  is  served  as  a  course  by  itself  ,  with  a  cool  drink, 
or  as  a  separate  course  of  sweet  after  a  meal.  The  following  for- 
mula was  given  me  by  Mr.  Lymberis  of  Smyrna. 
Dissolve  the  sugar  and  acid  in  the  water,  and  stir  in  the  white  of 
egg.    Boil,  skimming  occasionally,  until  the  thick  syrup  will  retain 
3  Powdered  mastic  is  made  by  mixing  enough  sugar  with  hard,  small  tear 
mastic  to  prevent  its  agglutination  when  rubbed  in  a  mortar.  Like  camphor, 
to  which  a  few  drops  of  alcohol  are  added,  it  cannot  be  powdered  alone. 
Confection  of  Mastic. 
Sugar   
Water   
Citric  acid   
White  of  one  egg. 
Mastic,  powdered 
34  oz. 
3  lbs. 
2  pts. 
1  dram 
/  U.  L. 
