History of Mortar and Pestle
In the Indian tradition mortar and pestle are used for above centuries
for grinding spices in the olden days. The tradition of using mortar and
pestle continued and are still used today in many of the Indian
kitchens.
Thai mortar and pestle is called
krok hin. The first
mortar and pestle in Thai was found in the Sukhothai period in 1238 and
it was one of the few cooking tools used to prepare meals. The
Suribachi and surikochgi is the Japanese version of
mortar and pestle and is originally from Southern China. It was
introduced in Japan in between the 11 and 12th centur. The tool was
first used to prepare medicines.
Italian frescoes of the 15th century show mortars and pestles in use by
Apothecaries, ancient pharmacists. The first mortar and pestle in Mexico
was introduced in the Tehuacan Valley. The Mexican version of mortar and
pestle is called
Molcajete and tejolote.
Marble was long used for making these tools but acids attack marble and
so ceramic tools were made. The first fully vitrified ceramic mortars
and pestles were made by the famous English Potter Josiah Wedgwood in
around 1800.
How is Mortar and Pestle used
- Place the substance inside the mortar.
- Put the pestle on the substance with pressure.
- Grind using a circular motion.
- The action forces the substance against the surface of the bowl
and pulverizes it.
Mortar and Pestle Material
Mortars and pestles come in a variety of shapes and sizes. There are
various materials used to make mortars and pestles.
- Porcelain Mortar and Pestle : It is not advised
for solid synthesis. Porcelain is a porous material and is easy to
clean. It is used in most organic and inorganic laboratories.
- Agate Mortar and Pestle : Agate is a form of
quartz and is highly advisable for solid synthesis.
- Wooden Mortar and Pestle : It is a less
versatile tool and perfect to grind seeds, grains, or salts.
Grinding foods with moisture content should be avoided because it
will cause the wood to split.
- Marble Mortar and Pestle : Marble is the best
choice for a versatile mortar and pestle. It does not absorb odors
from foods. It is hard and provides an excellent grinding surface.
- Ceramic Mortar and Pestle : It is an excellent
choice and it does not stain or retain food odors nor it gets
damaged from acidic foods.
Applications of Mortar and Pestle
- Traditionally used in pharmacies.
- Used in cooking to prepare ingredients.
- Grinding fresh herbs into a powder form.
- Used to prepare mochi.
- Used for grinding spices in Southeast Asia.
- Native American tribes used mortars and pestles to grind corns
and other nuts.
