A 70-Year-Old Mortar & Pestle: More Than Just a Kitchen Tool

Some things in life are more than just objects. They carry stories, memories, and the quiet strength of generations before us.

This humble mortar and pestle sitting in our kitchen is one of them.

It has been with my family for over 70 years.

I only discovered its true age last week. I was mopping the kitchen floor, glanced at it, and casually asked my mum about it. That simple question opened the door to a beautiful piece of family history I never fully appreciated before.

Back in the 1950s, my late maternal grandmother received this mortar and pestle as a gift from a close friend who was moving from Ipoh to Singapore. At that time, kitchen appliances were simple—there were no electric blenders or fancy gadgets. Everything was done by hand, with patience and skill.

This mortar and pestle quickly became one of her most treasured kitchen tools.

She used it daily—for grinding spices, preparing ingredients, and most memorably, making her sambal belacan. Not just for family meals, but for sale as well. Her sambal was so good that it became a source of income, helping to support the household.

I can only imagine her hands working rhythmically, grinding chilies and belacan into that rich, fragrant paste—each batch made with effort, care, and love.

After my grandmother passed away in 1992, the mortar and pestle didn’t retire.

My dad took over the kitchen, and he has been using it ever since. Decades later, it is still part of our daily cooking. What amazes me most is how it has stood the test of time—it still looks almost new, solid and sturdy. And incredibly heavy!

It’s not just the mortar and pestle that has lasted.

Along with it came other heirlooms from that same friend over 70 years ago—a black cast iron wok, wooden meat safe cupboard, and butter knives with handles made from real ivory. These items are still being used in our home today.

In fact, I use that butter knife every single day—cutting fruits and spreading butter on my morning toast. It’s such a simple, ordinary act, yet now I realise I’m holding a piece of history in my hands.

In our family, especially for my parents, throwing things away is almost unheard of. They believe in preserving, maintaining, and making full use of what they have. Because of that mindset, these items are not just antiques—they are living, breathing parts of our daily lives.

There’s something deeply comforting about that.

In a world where everything is disposable and easily replaced, these kitchen tools remind me of a different time—when things were built to last, and more importantly, when people valued what they had.

They tell a story of resilience, resourcefulness, and quiet perseverance.

And maybe, just maybe, they carry a little bit of my grandmother’s spirit too.

When I have some time, I’m planning to dig out my old Sanrio collectibles from when I was 12 years old—that’s over 40 years ago! I’d love to share those memories as well.

I’ll also be sharing photos of the antique cast iron wok, wooden meat safe cupboard and the ivory-handled butter knife soon. 

Because some stories deserve to be seen, remembered, and passed on.

Our kitchen heirloom under the old wooden meat safe cupboard, both aged over 70 years.