Mortar and pestle/ja: Difference between revisions

In Russian and Eastern European folklore, [[Baba Yaga]] is described and pictured as flying through the forest standing inside a large wooden mortar (stupa), holding the long wooden pestle in one hand to remove obstacles in front of her, and using the broom in her other hand to sweep and remove her traces behind her. This seems as a trace of some ancient rituals connecting the witch symbols of Baba Yaga with the use of mortars in alchemy, pharmacy, and early chemistry, which were all seen as magic by uneducated people in the Medieval Ages.

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In various Asian mythologies and folklores, there is a common theme of a [[Moon rabbit]], making use of a mortar and pestle to process the ingredients for the ''[[Elixir of life]]'' (or [[rice]] for making [[mochi]]).

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== Uses ==

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=== Medicine ===

[[File:PharmacistsMortar.svg|thumb|upright|right|Iconic [[apothecary]] mortar and pestle, displaying the '''{{not a typo|℞}}''' symbol for [[medical prescription]]s]]

Mortars and pestles were traditionally used in pharmacies to crush various ingredients before preparing an extemporaneous [[medical prescription|prescription]]. The mortar and pestle, with the [[Rod of Asclepius]], the Green Cross, and others, is one of the most pervasive symbols of pharmacology.

For pharmaceutical use, the mortar and the head of the pestle are usually made of [[porcelain]], while the handle of the pestle is made of [[wood]]. This is known as a [[Wedgwood]] mortar and pestle and originated in 1759. Today the act of mixing ingredients or reducing the particle size is known as [[trituration]].

Mortars and pestles are also used as [[drug paraphernalia]] to grind up pills to speed up absorption when they are [[eating|ingested]], or in preparation for [[Insufflation (medicine)|insufflation]]. To finely ground drugs, not available in the liquid [[dosage form]] are used also if patients need artificial nutrition such as [[parenteral nutrition]] or by [[nasogastric tube]].

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=== Food preparation ===

[[File:A traditional mortar.jpg|thumb|left|upright|A traditional Indian mortar and pestle]]

[[File:Bangkajf.JPG|upright|thumb|''Bangkang pinawa'', literally "boat (''[[bangka (boat)|bangka]]'') for unpolished rice", an ancient mortar and pestle from the [[Philippines]]]]

Mortars are also used in cooking to prepare wet or oily ingredients such as [[guacamole]], [[hummus]], and [[pesto]] (which derives its name from the pestle pounding), as well as grinding spices into powder. The [[molcajete]], a version used by pre-Hispanic [[Mesoamerican]] cultures including the [[Aztec]] and [[Maya civilization|Maya]], stretching back several thousand years, is made of [[basalt]] and is used widely in Mexican cooking. Other [[Indigenous peoples of the Americas|Native American]] nations use [[mortar hole|mortars carved into the bedrock]] to grind [[acorn]]s and other nuts. Many such depressions can be found in their territories.

In [[Japan]], very large mortars are used with wooden [[mallet]]s to prepare [[Mochi (food)|mochi]]. A regular-sized [[Japan]]ese mortar and pestle are called a [[suribachi and surikogi|''suribachi'' and ''surikogi'']], respectively. [[Granite]] mortars and pestles are used in [[Southeast Asia]], as well as [[Pakistan]] and [[India]]. In [[India]], it is used extensively to make spice mixtures for various delicacies as well as day-to-day dishes. With the advent of motorized grinders, the use of the mortar and pestle has decreased. It is traditional in various [[Hindu]] ceremonies (such as weddings, and [[upanayanam]]) to crush [[turmeric]] in these mortars.

In [[Malay language|Malay]], it is known as ''batu lesung''. Large [[rock (geology)|stone]] mortars, with long (2–3&nbsp;foot) wood pestles were used in [[West Asia]] to grind meat for a type of [[meatloaf]], or [[kibbeh]], as well as the [[hummus]] variety known as [[masabcha]]. In [[Indonesia]] mortar is known as ''Cobek'' or ''Tjobek'' and pestle is known as ''Ulekan'' or ''Oelekan''. The chobek is shaped like a deep saucer or plate. The ulekan is either pistol-shaped or ovoid. It is often used to make fresh [[sambal]], a spicy chili [[condiment]], hence the ''sambal ulek/oelek'' denotes its process using pestle. It is also used to grind peanuts and other ingredients to make peanut sauce for [[gado-gado]].

=== Husking and dehulling ===

{{further|Husk#Husking and dehulling}}

[[File:Wooden rice mortar 3.jpg|alt=A large wooden mortar with a wooden pestle lying horizontally across the top. |thumb|A wooden mortar and pestle was discovered at Briar's plantation in [[South Carolina]]. It was found in the rice loft and presumably used for dehulling.  ]]

In the [[Philippines]], mortar and pestles are specifically associated with de-husking [[rice]]. A notable traditional mortar and pestle is the boat-shaped ''bangkang pinawa'' or ''bangkang pangpinawa'', literally "boat (''[[bangka (boat)|bangka]]'') for unpolished rice", usually carved from a block of [[Vitex parviflora|molave]] or other hardwood. It is pounded by two or three people. The name for the mortar, ''lusong'', is the origin of the name of the largest island in the Philippines, [[Luzon]].

Large wooden mortars and pestles have been used to hull grain in West Africa for centuries. When enslaved Africans were brought to the Americas, they brought this technology—and knowledge of how to use it—with them. During the [[Middle Passage]], some slave ships carried un-hulled rice, and enslaved African women were tasked with using mortars and pestles to prepare it for consumption. In both colonial North and South America, rice continued to be primarily milled by hand in this way until around the mid-1700s when mechanical mills became more widespread.

== Material ==

[[File:Pilon.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Women in [[Cape Verde]] use a large mortar with multiple pestles]]

In [[outline of food preparation|food preparation]], a rough or absorbent material may cause the strong [[Flavor (taste)|flavor]] of a past ingredient to be tasted in food prepared later. Also, the food particles left in the mortar and on the pestle may support the growth of [[microorganism]]s. When dealing with [[medication]]s, the previously prepared [[drugs]] may interact or mix, contaminating the currently used ingredients.

Other materials used include stone, often [[marble]] or [[agate]], wood (which is highly absorbent), [[bamboo]], iron, [[steel]], [[brass]], and [[molcajete|basalt]]. Mortar and pestle sets made from the wood of old grape vines have proved reliable for grinding salt and pepper at the dinner table. Uncooked rice is sometimes ground in mortars to clean them. This process must be repeated until the rice comes out completely white. Some stones, such as [[molcajete]], need to be seasoned first before use. Metal mortars are kept lightly oiled.

== Automatic mortar grinder ==

The first automatic Mortar Grinder was invented by F. Kurt Retsch in 1923 and named the "Retschmill" after him.

== Advantages ==