Khalbatta
A small metal mortar and pestle used in Indian homes to crush ginger, garlic, cardamom and whole spices.
Also: khal batta, khal musal, iron mortar, dawa-kuta, hammam dista
Khalbatta, also khal musal, is the compact kitchen mortar, usually of iron or brass, with a short pestle. Households use it every day for small jobs: crushing ginger and green chilli, cracking cardamom pods, bruising peppercorns for tea, or making a pinch of garam masala. Because its walls are heavy, it takes strong blows without moving. It is also widely used for crushing medicines and betel nut in traditional households, which is why the same tool appears in a pharmacist's shop. Iron khalbattas should be dried well to avoid rust and are seasoned with oil. Stone ones retain smells more, so many families keep one for sweet and one for savoury use.