Pestle and Mortars
There's something wonderfully satisfying about grinding your own ingredients. With the right pestle and mortar, you can crush garlic, crack peppercorns, or blend your own spices mixes in seconds. Whether you're levelling up a weeknight curry or mixing a homemade rub for roasting, a manual spice grinder you power yourself gives you unbeatable flavour control.
You'll also find sleek porcelain pestle and mortar sets that add a stylish touch to your countertop, the kind you'll want to keep proudly on display. Whatever your kitchen style, we have the best pestle and mortars that are built to last and ready to help every dish taste its absolute best.
What is a pestle and mortar?
A pestle and mortar is one of the oldest (and still one of the best) cooking tools you can own. It's a simple two-part set: the mortar is the sturdy bowl, and the pestle is the handheld, club-shaped tool you use to crush, mash, and grind. Together, they help you break down ingredients and release their very best flavours.
They're not just for cooks, either. You'll find pestle and mortars in everything from old-school pharmacies to modern labs, where they're used to gently break down tablets or chemicals and create fine, even mixtures — the same reason they work so brilliantly in the kitchen.
At home, they're perfect for combining herbs, spices, seeds, and even wet ingredients into smooth pastes, powders, and fragrant spice blends.
Is a manual pestle and mortar better than an electrical grinder?
It really depends on how you like to cook. A manual pestle and mortar gives you total control; you can crush gently, grind firmly, or pound away until you get exactly the texture you want. It also releases flavours differently, letting oils, aromas, and natural moisture develop in a way that electrical grinders can't always match.
As with all kitchen appliances, electrical spice grinders are brilliant if you want speed and convenience, as well as super-fine powders at the touch of a button. But if you enjoy hands-on cooking (and the satisfaction of coaxing out every bit of flavour), a manual pestle and mortar often wins.
Pestle and mortar: Which is which?
- Mortar - The sturdy bowl that holds your spices, herbs, seeds, or garlic cloves.
- Pestle - The handheld, club-shaped tool you use to press, crush, and grind everything together.
The two are designed to work together. The weight of the pestle and the curve of the mortar help you break ingredients down quickly and evenly.
How to use a pestle and mortar
- Add your ingredients to the mortar. Anything from peppercorns to garlic cloves.
- Hold the mortar steady, then use the pestle to press down and crush.
- Use a circular motion to grind and blend ingredients together.
- Adjust the pressure depending on whether you want a chunky mix or a smooth paste.
It's a slow, satisfying process, and the flavour payoff is huge. Perfect for spice blends, curry pastes, rubs, marinades, pesto, and all those little touches that make home cooking feel extra special.
