Backcountry Iron 4.75 inch Cast Iron Mortar and Pestle Set 2 Cup Spice Grinder

Love it! I have a porcelain mortar and pestle that takes a lot of work. This cast iron one though grinds everything with just a couple of hits. The only drawback is that it tips over if stored as pictured. I take the grinder portion out when I put it on the counter.

The weight of both the mortar and pestle is substantial enough so that it makes it easier to use especially if you have a large quantity to pulverize. The pestle is heavy enough you don't need to use as much arm strength. To clean good it would help to have a brush but a sponge will work fine. It is cast iron and doesn't need to be seasoned unless you plan to cook with it (a little small for cooking anything in). Could be used for dips.

I've been looking at mortar and pestle sets and decided to focus on cast iron, but so many of them seem to be very tiny. I wanted something large enough for sauces. I actually ran across the pestle from this set sold separately and I was impressed! It was so much larger and heavier than anything else I had seen, and it seemed perfect for my purposes. I was wondering if I would be able to find a mortar to go with it. And then, lo and behold, I found this set! I'm very happy with it as the capacity is at least twice as large as other sets I had viewed. The pestle is absolutely gorgeous. The mortar is really nice, too -- it looks great and the cast iron seems to be of very good quality. However, it does seem rather small and lightly constructed in comparison with the truly massive pestle. The sides are base are rather thin for the intended purpose. If I let the pestle lean toward one of the three legs, the empty mortar is a bit tippy. I just make sure to lean the pestle against the side of the mortar about mid-way between two legs. This isn't a problem when I'm using it, as I am holding the mortar with one hand and using the pestle with the other. That said, this is definitely the best cast iron mortar and pestle I have found and the weight of the pestle makes short work of grinding spices or making salsa. It fits perfectly in my hand. The set is a bit pricey, but worth it. 5 stars for the pestle, 3 for the mortar, so 4 stars...

Small but not too small, works great without the grit or chance of breaking glass, very happy and just swirling it creates a wonderful purring song. And its cute with a nice thin walled pot perfectly ballanced to it's size. Very aesthetically pleasing.

I love it!! Super sturdy and the grinder has good weight to it. I can grind my herbs and burn them all in one. Absolutely love it!! I cured it with olive oil before my first use. Wow!! The only thing I’m changing is the handlebars, they came off right away but I don’t mind going to use a chain instead.

I'd been searching for ever for just the right mortar and pestle set. Absolutely LOVE this. It is heavier than I anticipated but that's a good thing since I tend to be clumsy. I've had it since Oct. and haven't had to do a thing to it other than just enjoy using it. Quality craftsmanship! Great for all your mini cauldron needs :-)

I love the unique look of this mortar and pestle. It is cast iron so drying thoroughly after washing is necessary to prevent rust. I currently use this item to crush maple candy into fine sugar for baking purposes and it serves the purpose perfectly! If ever a larger size was offered I’d be interested!

This is a quality set. The mortar is of a generous size, while the pestle is VERY heavy—so much so that the user will have to employ very little “muscle” in order to crush herbs and other ingredients. Highly recommended.