The original food processor..every home should have one

Early man, before they discovered fire, were using rock against rock to crush hard things, whether for painting supplies or for food..seeds, berries, grasses.

I have seen the old "milling" holes of the Chumash Indians in Topanga Canyon, close to Malibu, California..they used to crush OAK acorns to make flour ..as did most of the Native Nations of America, even up to the present day.
This is the portable version of that, when 2 good rocks ( one the crusher and the other the crushee) were not handy
This Kitchen  device has been used around the world for thousands of years and has never needed improvement ..the only changes depends on the stone it is made from......marble, wood, volcanic pumice ( as is mine), stone. ( the metal ones are really for medical use)
I know it as a mortar and pestle....it is great for crushing woody stems of thyme or rosemary into a paste; mashing garlic with a little salt produces a great smooth paste; crushing hard spices to make spice mixes..it is very easy clean up and a totally GREEN ( planet friendly as it is totally manual in operation).
No other kitchen item has so many uses for so little money and yet hardly anyone uses them. The are very popular in Latin American cuisines, East Indian and some Asian Cuisines; a lot of them in Italy are made form Olive wood.


They are all heavy except the wooden ones and they don't bounce off the floor well, so always treat them with respect and they will out last you and your kitchen
A lot of people associate them with witches, like black cats, and cauldrons ...well the Wikka folk were just Great herbalists..and they knew a good appliance when they found one.

This should be on every bridal list...along with information how to use it and the oven/stove top...lol

If you don't have one, get one, you will use it every week.....when you crush fresh garlic and salt, it produces a smooth paste as it releases all the oils, the garlic paste produced will disappear in any recipe very quickly, no electric food processor can compare..that along with crushing spices for mole, and curry pastes.

Mine is made from volcanic rock- Pumice

it is very coarse and makes grinding very quick, but leaves a chunkier paste, the marble ones take longer but the results are smoother and they are easier to clean.

Never wash your mortar or pestle in soapy water.

Rinse under a hot tap, wipe dry and let it air dry....do not put them in a dishwasher.

With the olive wood ones as with any bowls made from wood..these should again not be washed in soapy water, use  hot water and maybe add some salt, to act as an abrasive, wipe very dry then, using good olive oil, wipe the inside and outside of the bowl( do not be tempted to use any scented oils like lemon, unless you plan to use your bowl as an air freshener for a few decades) and allow to air dry before packing away..this will prevent the wood from cracking or warping.

a fine 21st century mortar & pestle... the design of which has not changed in 1000's of years