What Is Salep and Mastic

This ice cream needs to be made a day ahead to ensure it’s frozen and ready to go. Mastic is a resinous sap from the mastic tree, which is native to Greece. Salep is a flour made from the tubers of orchids.

Is salep the same as mastic?

Both give the ice cream a unique taste. Golden gum mastic from Chios (mastiha) may be available through Greek grocers, and salep (salepi, sahlep, sahlab—a powder made from the root of an orchid plant) may be available from Greek, Egyptian, Lebanese, Turkish, or kosher markets.

What is salep used for?

Salep is a plant. The root (tuber), powdered and added to water, is used as medicine. People take salep for digestion problems including heartburn, gas (flatulence), and indigestion. Salep is also used for diarrhea, particularly in children.