Mortar and pestle

From ArticleWorld

A mortar and pestle is today generally used to effectively grind and crush spices, and fresh ingredients such as ginger, garlic, chilli, and herbs. The set was also a basic tool in the practice of alchemy, is a commonly-recognized symbol for pharmacies, and is an integral part of the everyday practices and myth of many cultures.

A mortar is a well-blanced wide-mouthed bowl into which the substances to be ground or crushed are placed. The pestle is a heavy tapered stick, sometimes with a bulbous end, that is used to pound the materials. The tapered end of the pestle is the handle. Mortar and pestles are often made of unpolished granite or heavy clay, though they can also be fashioned out of wood and brass. In indigenous North America and South American cultures mortars and pestles are made from basalt volcanic rock.

A mortar and pestle can grind and crush dry and wet ingredients corasely as well as into smooth pastes, and fine powders, and are thus highly prized in food preparation, particularly in cuisines where complex blends of spices and herbs are used on a daily basis. In addition, much larger mortar and pestle sets are also used to grind grain into meal.

Before the days of large pharmaceutical companies, apothecaries would make up extemporaneous prescriptions as needed, nearly always using a mortar and pestle, and even today some medical traditions such as homeopathy use this method for fresh drugs.