The mechanical process of breaking down food into smaller particles using friction or crushing force. Essential for creating powders, pastes, and releasing flavors from spices and grains.
From Old English 'grindan,' related to grinding grain between stones. The word shares roots with German 'grinden' and has maintained its core meaning of reducing materials to powder through mechanical force for over 1000 years.
Grinding spices releases volatile oils that have been locked inside the cellular structure - this is why freshly ground black pepper tastes dramatically different from pre-ground. Ancient spice traders knew that whole spices stayed potent longer, making them more valuable than ground ones!
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