✓ Tested in Faten's kitchen
Warm whole milk gently scented with ground mastic (mastika) and a thread of rose water — the simplest and most comforting Lebanese drink, served to children, the elderly, and anyone who needs warmth without caffeine.
⏱ 15 min🍽 2 servings📍 Mount Lebanon
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The story
Mastic (mastika in Arabic, mastiha in Greek) — the crystallized resin harvested from Pistacia lentiscus trees on the Greek island of Chios — has been traded throughout the Mediterranean since ancient times. The Ottomans protected the Chios mastic monopoly zealously; it was used in everything from chewing gum to liqueur to bread. In Lebanon and Syria it flavors ice cream, milk puddings, sweet breads, and this gentle drink. Haleeb bil mastic is not a café drink — it belongs in the home. Mothers in the Chouf and Kesrouan mountains warmed it for children on cold mornings before school, or gave it to nursing women, or served it to guests after a late dinner instead of coffee. The mastic resin must be ground with a small amount of sugar to prevent it from clumping — ground alone it becomes a gum. The resulting drink is aromatic, faintly pine-resinous, warming. Faten remembers her mother making a Syrian version of this, scented with mastic and orange blossom, on winter mornings in Idlib.
Frequently asked questions
What is Haleeb bil Mastic?
Warm whole milk gently scented with ground mastic (mastika) and a thread of rose water — the simplest and most comforting Lebanese drink, served to children, the elderly, and anyone who needs warmth without caffeine.
Where is Haleeb bil Mastic from?
Haleeb bil Mastic comes from Mount Lebanon. Sofra documents this recipe as part of its 214-recipe Lebanese and Syrian heritage collection, including 49 dishes from Idlib province.
Is Haleeb bil Mastic vegetarian?
As written, Haleeb bil Mastic contains no meat or fish, so it is suitable for vegetarians. It does include dairy or other animal-derived ingredients, so it is not vegan. Check the full ingredient list against your own dietary needs.
What can I use instead of ground cinnamon in Haleeb bil Mastic?
The ground cinnamon called for here is part of the traditional recipe and gives Haleeb bil Mastic its traditional character, so keep it if you can. If you must substitute, choose the closest equivalent you have on hand and adjust to taste — the dish will shift slightly from the traditional version but still work. The Sofra app lists the full ingredient set and sourcing notes.
What do I serve with Haleeb bil Mastic?
In a Levantine drinks spread, Haleeb bil Mastic is served as a refreshment on its own, warm or chilled as the recipe directs.
Can I make Haleeb bil Mastic ahead, and how do I store leftovers?
This can be made ahead and kept covered in the refrigerator. Stir or shake before serving, and adjust sweetness or dilution to taste.
Hear every step read aloud
Step-by-step audio narration (text-to-speech) guides you hands-free. Charbel Rouhana's original oud plays during Cooking Mode.
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