Before the discovery of iron and other metals (in the Stone Age), the primitive human beings used to carve the stone in the form of vessels and employed them for cooking (Eenadu 2018). In the developed society of current age, the health-conscious people are shifting toward stone vessels by keeping aside the aluminum, stainless steel (SS), non-stick, and plastic cookware. The aluminum (Al) vessels are available at a cheaper price and SS cookware is easy to clean. In the case of non-stick ware, dishes can be made without food sticking into the vessel by utilizing no or minimum oil. The plasticwares are widely used for storing and heating the food in a microwave oven. However, the utility of the modern cookware is also combined with various detrimental effects on our health. The release for Ni and Cr, Al and Teflon, and Si into the food from SS, aluminum, and non-stick cookware, respectively may lead to cancer, Alzheimer’s, asthma, kidney disorders, etc. (Eenadu 2018). While, the plastic cookware release toxic substances including bisphenol A, melamine, vinyl chloride, and phthalates into the food during usage. Most of them act as carcinogens, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and xenoestrogens, and cause kidney damage (Kora 2019). The stone vessels are mainly made up of soapstone, derived the name from its soapy and smooth surface texture. Their utilization in daily household cooking is abundant nearly 20-30 years ago (Eenadu 2018; Quintaes et al. 2002). Currently, people are tired of factory-made things and centric toward organic and handmade, exclusive products that have both traditional importance as well as health benefits. Now, it is the time to rejuvenate the cooking traditions of ancestors for relishing the distinct taste and aroma of food cooked and stored in soapstone cookware. We have to take out the forgotten soapstone cookware stacked in our attics and start utilizing them (Adlakha 2017; Zishta.com 2018a).
Soapstone storage and cookware are known as rathi chippa, kal chatti, and makal chatti in Telugu and Tamil languages, respectively. These hand-carved, traditional, versatile kitchen utensils are employed for cooking, serving, and storing food in the Southern states of India: Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Kerala. They are made, used, and treasured since the rise of civilization. The talc rich, non-porous, soft rock is highly valued as it is easily carvable into massive forms, cooking pots, vessels, small utensils, and food containers (Baron et al. 2016; Damick and Woodworth 2015; Yenugu 2012; Jones et al. 2007). The local artisans in Salem and Cuddalore, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry have the ability to break the quarried larger rocks and sculpture into cookware with various shapes, volumes, weights, heights, and diameters (sizes) with or without lids. They include storage containers, bowl-shaped pan/mookudu/kadai, serving bowls, pots, storage jars, penam/kallu/tawa/pan, paniyaram chatti, and mortar and pestle (Fig. 1). The color of these vessels varies from lighter to darker shades of gray, green, brown, black, and white. In spite of their weight, they are safely microwavable and easy to wash (Zishta.com 2018a). The artisans work manually for hours with a chisel and wooden block from excavating the stone block to filing the vessel and finally finishing into a distinct and delicate masterpiece. A single handmade vessel is the result of focus, skill, and precise craftsmanship for hours. Also, cooking plates and countertops which can be used in grills and ovens are also made with soapstone. They are also used for making soppu saman, a miniature kitchen utensil toy set for girls (Fig. 2) (CulturalIndia.net 2016; Eenadu 2018; Kandaswamy 2016; Zishta.com 2018a; Zishta.com 2018b; Zishta.com 2018c).
The soapstone is a perfect medium of carving material for soft stone artifacts, sculptures, decorative architecture, single wick lamps, fireplaces, and stoves, as it is softer than marble and granite (Kandaswamy 2016; Storemyr 2004). The practice of making and using mineral-rich soapstone cookware and vessels is prevalent in India even much before the 3rd Century BC (Eenadu 2018). One such example is the Hoysaleswara temple located at Halebidu of Karnataka state. The temple is carved from the soapstone with sculptures, intricate shapes, and reliefs, iconography, inscriptions showcasing the life and culture of South India in the 12th century (Nair Srijith 2014). The utilization of soapstone cookware and vessels, artifacts, decorative objects, sculptures, statues, and ornaments such as stone beads is also found in Indus Valley civilization (Damick and Woodworth 2015) and various countries such as South America, North America, Canada (Baron et al. 2016), Lebanon (Damick and Woodworth 2015), Israel, Turkey (Bar-Yosef Mayer et al. 2004), Egypt, (Eliyahu Behar et al. 2016), Nigeria (Ige and Swanson 2008), Europe from Scandinavia to Northern Britain (Jones et al. 2007); Brazil (Quintaes et al. 2002; Rodrigues and Lima 2012), Central Italy (Santi et al. 2009), and Norway (Storemyr 2004).