Sweet as Sin Sweet as Sin Sweet as Sin: The Unwrapped Story of How Candy Became America’s Pleasure is a 2016 nonfiction book written by Susan Benjamin. It focuses on the history of candy and its importance in American culture. The book details the history of the birth of sweets from the harvesting of the marshmallow plant in ancient Egypt to the mass-produced candy innovations of the twentieth century. The book also covers the history of chocolate, botanical sweets, and candied nuts. Benjamin describes these candy stories as rich and deep, from a national, political, and human rights level. The "Washington Independent" wrote:
Mastic (plant resin) from , weeping, and is thought to refer to the "tears" of resin secreted by the mastic plant. Ancient Jewish halachic sources indicate suggest mastic as a treatment for bad breath: "Mastic is not chewed on shabbat. When [is it not permissible to chew mastic on shabbat]? When the intention is medicinal. If it is used for bad breath, it is permissible." Mastic is an essential ingredient of chrism, the holy oil used for anointing by the Orthodox Churches. Mastic is used in some varnishes. Mastic varnish was used to protect and preserve photographic negatives. Mastic is also used in