{"product_id":"round-stone-mortar-pestle-8-inch-hansraj","title":"Round Stone Mortar and Pestle 8 Inch | Hansraj Kharal Khalbatta","description":"\u003ch2\u003e8 Inch Round Stone Mortar and Pestle in Hansraj Stone\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis round stone mortar and pestle is cut from a single block of Hansraj stone and finished by hand in villages of Bihar, India. Known in Indian kitchens as a kharal or khalbatta, the round bowl shape keeps spices in the centre of the mortar so nothing jumps out while you pound. At 7.5 Kg with an 8 Inch outer diameter, it stays put on the counter without sliding, which is exactly what you want when crushing whole spices, ginger garlic or fresh herbs. It suits both home cooks and Ayurveda practitioners who need a khalva yantra for Rasa Sastra work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eWhy you will love it\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMade from hard Hansraj stone that does not break easily in daily pounding and grinding.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe pestle is the same Hansraj stone as the mortar, so both wear evenly over years of use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eInner depth of 4 Inch holds enough for about 350 gm of powder, which covers a full masala batch for most families.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e7.5 Kg of natural stone means the mortar does not travel across the slab while you work.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHand pounding on a chutney stone keeps the texture and aroma that an electric mixer flattens out.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSemi smooth black surface grips seeds and bark instead of letting them slip.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHow to use it\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor dry work, add whole spices a little at a time and use short vertical strikes, then switch to a circular grinding motion to bring the powder down fine. For wet work such as chutney, green masala or ginger garlic paste, pound the hard items first and add the soft ones after. Ayurveda users can use the same kharal for herb powders and bhasma preparation. Keep the pestle upright and let the weight of the stone do the work rather than pressing hard.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eSize guide\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSize\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eDimensions\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eInner depth\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePestle length\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWeight\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 Inch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 Inch x 8 Inch x 5.3 Inch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e4 Inch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e8 Inch\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e7.5 Kg\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFirst time seasoning, required before first use\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eThis piece is not pre-seasoned. Season it once before you cook with it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 1: Rinse and dry the mortar and pestle with clean water. Do not use soap.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 2: Grind a paste of raw rice until the mortar turns grey. Discard it and repeat 2 to 3 times.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 3: Grind garlic, cumin and water to a paste. This removes the stone smell.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eStep 4: Rinse with water only. The mortar and pestle is now ready to use.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003ch2\u003eCare\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eWash with plain water only. Do not use soap or detergent, since stone holds the smell of chemicals. Scrub stubborn residue with a stiff brush or a little coarse salt, then air dry the mortar and pestle fully before storing so no moisture stays in the bowl.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eHandcrafted in Bihar\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eEvery kutne wala piece is shaped and finished by artisan families in villages of Bihar, India, using the same hand tools their families have used for generations. This is natural stone, so colour and grain vary slightly from piece to piece and small surface marks are part of the material, not a defect.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eDoes this stone mortar and pestle need seasoning before first use?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. It is not pre-seasoned. Rinse and dry it without soap, grind raw rice paste until the mortar turns grey and repeat 2 to 3 times, then grind garlic, cumin and water to a paste and rinse with plain water.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs the 8 Inch size right for a normal household?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. The 8 Inch mortar measures 8 Inch x 8 Inch x 5.3 Inch with a 4 Inch inner depth, which holds enough for about 350 gm of powder, so it handles everyday chutney and masala for a family. Larger sizes of 14 inch and above are the big size choice for bulk masala.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eWhat is a kharal or khalbatta called in English?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eKharal, khalbatta, kutne wala, sil batta, okhli and hamam dasta are regional Indian names for a mortar and pestle set used to pound spices and herbs by hand.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow do I clean it after making chutney?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eRinse with plain water only and brush out the residue. Never use soap or detergent, and let it air dry completely before you put it away.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs Hansraj stone good for daily grinding of spices?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eHansraj stone is very hard and does not break easily, so it works well as a daily spice grinder stone. Buyers comparing this with a granite mortar and pestle get the same heavy, stable feel from natural Hansraj stone.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs the pestle made of the same stone?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eYes. The pestle is always cut from the same Hansraj stone as the mortar and measures 8 Inch in length.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Vintagebihar","offers":[{"title":"8 Inch","offer_id":51349233238183,"sku":null,"price":3299.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false},{"title":"10 Inch","offer_id":51349233270951,"sku":null,"price":4599.0,"currency_code":"INR","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0598\/1824\/6311\/files\/round-shape-hansraj-stone-mortar-and-pestle-img1-clean.jpg?v=1789646688","url":"https:\/\/vintagebihar.com\/en-au\/products\/round-stone-mortar-pestle-8-inch-hansraj","provider":"Vintagebihar","version":"1.0","type":"link"}