Ubiquitous in kitchens across Mexico, the mortar (molcajete) and pestle (tejolote) made of basalt — or fine-grained lava rock — have been used for millennia to grind spices, chiles, seeds, and nuts, and prepare salsas, guacamole, and purees. Like the best kitchen tools, it achieves even more character with age, as its surface slowly absorbs a memory of all the flavors it has come to know.

The Masienda Molcajete was crafted by artisan Don Enrique Juárez of Puebla, whose family has perfected the craft of stone carving over the past 75 years.