IMUSA USA LIS-005W Jumbo Mortar with Pestle, Wood

I a couple of these mortar and pestle sets to use in my herbalism classes, and they have been a wonderful addition to our apothecary work. The craftsmanship is beautiful— solid, and grounding to hold. It has a weight that feels just right in the hands, and it’s clearly made from quality wood.That said, these are handmade wood products and not flawless. I’ve included an additional photo highlighting a few imperfections—like a visible seam line and a slightly rougher edge near the base. These don’t bother me at all, especially since I teach with a strong emphasis on natural materials and the beauty of imperfection. But if you’re looking for a pristine, machine-perfect piece, it’s worth knowing.Functionally, it works beautifully. In class, we use it to gently break up dried herbs and flowers for tea blends, oils, and salts. I appreciate that the wooden surface doesn’t over-pulverize—just bruises and breaks herbs in a way that keeps their character intact.I included two additional photos with a half-pint canning jar for size reference: one inside the bowl to show volume, and one beside it to show height. It’s the perfect size for small-batch work and very easy to store.If you love working with your hands, appreciate wood grain and character, and want a tool that feels as grounded as the plants you’re working with, I think you’ll love this. I’ll likely buy a few more for my students.

Satisfied

Serves the purpose for small garlic or spices like pepper and others it will help for rough grindingIf you are Indian student abroad and like to do your spices grinder go for this portable and small may be 3 inches deep

Wonderful quality it arrived quickly perfect size if you’re looking for something small yet functional this is the one for you.

I’ve been using the IMUSA USA Small Polished Mortar and Pestle (3.75”, Granite) for a few weeks now, and overall, I’m very pleased with it. It’s a compact but solid tool that feels heavy and well-made right out of the box. The polished granite has a nice smooth finish, especially on the inside, which makes it easier to clean compared to rougher, unpolished mortars. It also gives it a sleek, modern look that I don’t mind leaving out on the counter.This set is ideal for grinding up spices, seeds, and small amounts of herbs or garlic. I use it mostly to crush peppercorns, make spice blends, and even to muddle garlic and ginger for marinades. It does a great job with dry ingredients, and with a little patience, it works well with slightly moist items too.That said, it is quite small—so if you're planning to make guacamole, pesto, or larger batches of anything, this probably isn’t the right size. It’s really more for light, everyday prep work. Also, like most granite mortars, there’s a bit of grit in the beginning, so I recommend seasoning it first by grinding some dry rice to remove any stone dust or loose particles.In short, this is a well-crafted and attractive little mortar and pestle that’s perfect for small kitchen tasks. It’s not a workhorse for large-scale prep, but for quick grinding jobs and adding a touch of traditional cooking to your routine, it’s a great buy. I’m giving it 4 stars only because of its size limitations, but the quality is definitely there.

This is a brilliant mortar and pestle. It’s strong and solid piece of granite. It can crush rice, and that’s good enough for me.

A little too small for the price. Does the job well though, but not made for grinding a lot of stuff at once.

I expected this was a small, however, it is a tiny mortar and pestle which I did not expect. In terms of functionality it is well crafted out of thick well polished materials and grinds small amounts of dried herbs well. I haven’t tried grinding any peppercorns or harder objects yet, however, I don’t expect any issue beyond the need to do very small amounts because the pestle is small, and therefore not as heavy as it might be if it were larger. I’m including a picture with my hand as a size comparison. For reference, I wear a medium women’s glove.