Mortar
A mortar is a vessel, typically cup- or bowl-shaped, in which ingredients are crushed or ground, traditionally with a club-shaped tool known as a pestle. The pair of implements, the mortar and pestle, have been used since antiquity in tasks ranging from cooking and pharmacy to chemistry and cosmetics. The term mortar derives from the classical Latin word mortarium, which carried several meanings, including "receptacle for pounding" and "product of grinding or pounding."
History
The mortar and pestle is an ancient tool, with evidence of its use dating back to the Stone Age. Its simple and effective design has allowed it to remain relevant for millennia. Ancient civilizations, including those in Egypt, Rome, and Greece, relied on them extensively. The Ebers Papyrus, an Egyptian medical text from approximately 1550 BC, contains hundreds of prescriptions that would have required the use of a mortar and pestle for compounding. This highlights their long-standing and crucial role in the history of medicine.
Their use has been continuous through the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, and into the modern era, forming a standard piece of equipment for apothecaries, scientists, and cooks.
Design and Mechanism
The effectiveness of a mortar and pestle lies in the application of pressure and friction. The material to be processed is placed in the mortar's cavity. The user then presses the pestle down onto the material, crushing it against the mortar's hard surface. A grinding or circular motion (a process known as trituration in a pharmaceutical context) further breaks down the particles through friction.
The curvature of the mortar's interior is designed to keep the substance contained and to naturally collect it in the center during the grinding process, ensuring efficient and even processing.
Materials
Mortars and their accompanying pestles are made from a variety of materials, chosen based on the intended use.
- Ceramic and Porcelain: These are common materials for laboratory and pharmaceutical use. They are hard, brittle, and non-porous, which prevents them from absorbing or contaminating the substances being ground. Their smooth surface is also easy to clean.
- Stone: Hard stones like granite and basalt are highly durable and excellent for grinding tough substances like spices and grains. The slightly rough surface of an unpolished stone mortar provides superior friction for grinding. The Mexican molcajete is a traditional example made from basalt.
- Wood: Wooden mortars and pestles are often used for ingredients that may be bruised rather than pulverized, such as herbs for a pesto. However, wood is porous and can absorb flavors and odors, making it unsuitable for medical applications.
- Metal: Brass, bronze, and iron mortars were historically common, especially in apothecaries, due to their durability. However, they can react with acidic or other reactive substances.
- Glass: Glass mortars and pestles are non-porous and suitable for liquids and simple crushing, but their fragility makes them less ideal for heavy-duty grinding.
Applications
The mortar and pestle is a versatile tool with a wide range of applications.
Medicine and Pharmacy
In a medical context, the mortar and pestle is a classic symbol of the pharmacy profession, representing the practice of compounding—the preparation of personalized medications. Pharmacists have historically used them to:
- Crush tablets into a fine powder to facilitate ingestion or create liquid suspensions.
- Grind raw herbs and chemical compounds to prepare remedies.
- Mix different powdered ingredients together evenly (trituration).
Food Preparation
The mortar is a staple in kitchens worldwide for:
- Grinding whole spices like peppercorns, cumin, and coriander seeds, which releases their aromatic oils and provides superior flavor compared to pre-ground powders.
- Making pastes and sauces, such as pesto, guacamole, curry pastes, and mojo.
- Crushing nuts, seeds, and garlic.
Science and Laboratory
In chemistry and other sciences, mortars are used to pulverize solid chemical samples for analysis or to increase their surface area to speed up chemical reactions.