Mortar and pestle

The mortar and pestle is among the oldest tools in human history, with evidence of use dating back to the Upper Paleolithic, around 35,000 years ago, for grinding plant materials and pigments. Ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs depict the preparation of medicines with mortar and pestle, and the Ebers Papyrus (c. 1550 BC) lists remedies that were likely prepared this way.¹ In classical antiquity, Hippocrates and Galen advocated the use of mortar and pestle for compounding drugs, establishing the tool as a symbol of pharmacy.² The Roman author Pliny the Elder described various types of mortars, including those made of stone and bronze. Throughout the Middle Ages, apothecaries used bronze or brass mortars, often ornately decorated, and the tool became a common emblem outside pharmacies.

Mortars and pestles are made from a variety of materials, each suited to specific tasks. Stone mortars, such as those made of granite or marble, are durable and heavy, ideal for grinding spices and grains. Ceramic and porcelain mortars are non-porous and easy to clean, but can chip. Wooden mortars are lighter and less abrasive, used for crushing soft herbs. Metal mortars, often brass or stainless steel, are used in pharmacies and laboratories for their resistance to corrosion and ease of sterilization.³ The shape of the mortar and pestle affects efficiency: a deep bowl with a rounded interior and a pestle that fits the curve allow for effective grinding without splattering. Some modern designs incorporate a rough interior surface to aid in grinding, while others are smooth for mixing.

In contemporary kitchens, the mortar and pestle remains indispensable for making pesto, guacamole, spice pastes, and curry pastes, where the crushing action releases essential oils and flavors that mechanical grinders cannot replicate. In pharmacy, despite the advent of automated mills, the mortar and pestle is still used to compound small batches of medications, especially for triturating tablets into powders or mixing ointments. In laboratories, it is used to grind solid chemicals into fine powders, often with a porcelain or agate mortar to avoid contamination. The tool is also used in the preparation of traditional medicines in many cultures, such as Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine.

Beyond its common uses, the mortar and pestle has niche applications. In geology, it is used to crush rock samples for analysis, with agate mortars providing a contamination-free surface. In forensic science, it is used to grind evidence for chemical testing. The tool also appears in art and symbolism: it is a symbol of pharmacy and is used in the logos of many pharmaceutical organizations. A lesser-known fact is that the mortar and pestle is used in the production of certain traditional Japanese ceramics, where the pestle is used to grind glaze ingredients. Additionally, the largest mortar and pestle on record is a bronze mortar from the 16th century, weighing over 500 kg, displayed in a museum in Germany.

The mortar and pestle has left its mark on language and culture. The phrase "to have a pestle and mortar" is an old English idiom meaning to be ready for action. In heraldry, the mortar and pestle appears on the coats of arms of some apothecary guilds. In the Harry Potter series, the mortar and pestle is used in potion-making, reflecting its magical association. In some cultures, the mortar and pestle is used in wedding ceremonies to symbolize the grinding of life's challenges together. The tool is also a common motif in still-life paintings, representing the art of cooking and medicine.

Trituration

The process of reducing a substance to a fine powder by grinding in a mortar.

Agate

A hard, fine-grained stone used for high-quality laboratory mortars to avoid contamination.

Compounding

The preparation of customized medications in a pharmacy, often using a mortar and pestle.