A suribachi used to be found in every Japanese kitchen–it was used for much the same purpose as a kitchen blender is used today. Glazed on the outside and grooved on the inside, the ridges help to grind out any lumps that may have formed during the mixing or steaming steps, yielding smooth, elastic paste.
roughly 10" across top
A surikogi is the pestle used with the suribachi. Any wooden pestle will do–even a broomstick handle or billy club will work in a pinch. The item I sell is the traditional Japanese version.
suribachi and sugikogi, grinding bowl and pestle
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