Brand & Type: Cast Iron Skeppshult Mortel and Pestle Rating: high Price Range: medium, around $40 Description: Cast Iron Skeppshult Mortel and Pestle 13 cm high Pros: heavy, solid design, rough interior surface to grind easily Cons: cast iron can rust, needs extra care Conclusion: Not every kitchen needs a mortel and pestle but they are very handy to have around, and a lot less mess than a food processor. We have owned and tested a marble mortel for years and one of the biggest problems is that it is too smooth on the inside so it takes more effort to grind nuts or spices. We did a quick test by grinding a few cloves. It worked fast and with minimal effort. The textured cast iron surface works well. To clean the mortel just wipe it out with a cloth. Never use soap or anything harsh to scrub it with. At most warm water and a cloth with clean it up. To prevent any rust when it is not in use just rub it with some vegetable oil using a paper towel. Some whole cloves:  Ground Cloves: 
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