Stone (Granite) Mortar and Pestle, 7 in, 2+ cup capacity
by ImportFood
Our Price: $23.25
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Category: Kitchen
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Product Summary
Manufacturer: ImportFoodBrand: ImportFood
Product features:
- Manufactured by ImportFood in Tak, Thailand. 7" diameter, 5" inner bowl, 4.5" height, 7" pestle
- Handmade from a single block of extremely hard (Mohs Scale 7+), dark granite, 3 sizes available
- Indestructible, will not chip or crack no matter how hard you pound
- Received top endorsement from celebrity chef David Rosengarten
- Beautiful appearance, a work of art to show off in your kitchen
Kitchen and Housewares Reviews of Stone (Granite) Mortar and Pestle, 7 in, 2+ cup capacity
Customer Review: A miracle for pesto!
Summary: 5 Stars
I love pesto. My boyfriend insists on making it the traditional Italian way, with a mortar and pestle, because Marcella Hazan recommends it that way. I didn't think I could ever make pesto myself, because I don't have enough strength in my arms to grind away with the mortar and pestle my boyfriend had. It was porcelain and small and inconvenient for making pesto in larger quantities for when we had guests over. So I decided to get him a new one, bigger and better.
I searched several mainstream kitchen stores and was unhappy with the selections they had. If the mortars weren't too small, the pestles almost always were. They seemed painful to work with as I worried my boyfriend would bang his fist around while grinding. Then I found this one at Sur La Table. Their price was comparable to the one offered here.
I got the biggest size mortar and pestle. At first, I was hesitant because it didn't come in any packaging and so I couldn't check who the makers were or what material its made of and other such information. It really was just "what you see is what you get". It did have a "Made in Thailand" sticker, but I had no idea if Thailand was famous for its mortars and pestles. I did think that to ship something this heavy all the way from Thailand would be expensive, which I really don't think is reflected in the price. Also, the material (which I now know is granite) seemed to have some imperfections. For example, the handles on the side are just for show and serve no function and they weren't identical. I wondered if this was some kind of "tourist trap" item made in Thailand that was imported.
I finally decided to get it because it was the biggest and sturdiest mortar and pestle I had found. I could also return it if my boyfriend didn't approve of it. It also looked so pretty. We wouldn't have to put it away as it would make a great display/conversation piece in the kitchen. What I also loved about it was that the mortar and the pestle each were made in one piece. Nothing could possibly break off or loosen up.
My boyfriend loved it upon sight! He agreed it was a great display piece. And more importantly, big enough to grind enough pesto for a large dinner party. But the real test was actually trying it out to make pesto in it. My goodness! What used to take my boyfriend 20 minutes to make now takes him 5 minutes. Better yet, as heavy as that pestle is compared to others, I could grind pesto now with little effort! It's such a pleasure to make now, as I witness a miracle taking place in the mortar. Just a few grinds and swirls makes basil leaves become the required paste. It practically makes itself!
Yes, its heavy! I thought that would be a drawback, because then we couldn't hold it while we were grinding. But there's no need for that! It's so heavy that it won't move around the counter top while grinding, and it does the job so efficiently and quickly that there's no need to hold it for shoulder and arm joint relief. We also found out that some granite grit would come into the food. Some online research revealed that grinding some uncooked rice in the mortar, throwing it out and repeating the process until a batch of rice remained white instead of gritty would solve the problem. I know this sounds like a hassle, but if you're looking for long-term satisfaction as a serious cook, this is it. No two ways about it.
Now I know that the imperfections in the granite are natural. Considering that it is extremely difficult to chip away granite, I wonder how they carved out handles and all in the first place!
I love it!
P.S. My boyfriend has used it to grind spices for curry and said it worked great for that as well.
Description of Stone (Granite) Mortar and Pestle, 7 in, 2+ cup capacity
Manufactured in Thailand by ImportFood, the exclusive importer. Order from ImportFood to avoid knockoff versions made of inferior stone. Hand carved granite, this durable high quality product is an important tool for Thai cooking as well as around the world. Won't chip or crack. Each mortar is cut from a solid granite rock and carefully carved by hand. Hefty 12 lb weight, this product has remarkable visual appeal and is the finest mortar and pestle on the market. We use the finest raw material available, an extremely dense granite with Mohs hardness of 7+. ImportFood mentioned as the best mortar and pestle in America by The Wall Street Journal (Feb 16, 2007).Herb & Spice Tools
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