Mortar and Pestle

The spice bowl's original application in medieval Europe was as an apothecary's tool. An apothecary is basically equivalent to a modern day pharmacist. The apothecary would crush and mix herbs and other medicinal ingredients in his mortar using a hand held pestle. Typically, a professional apothecary would be equipped with a porcelain bowled mortar and a wooden pestle with a head of porcelain. Later years saw the spread of domestic, culinary mortar and pestle use.

The use of mortar and pestle is also loosely associated with witchcraft and, in a very unique way, with Slavic mythology. See our Spice Bowl Fun Stuff page on Baba Yaga for more information!