I am a proud Jamaican. As a Jamaican there is a lot of things that contribute to my heritage. My artifact is a mortar and pestle or as my mother calls it " morta". A mortar and pestle is a two piece object that is used to grind herbs, spices, etc. Jamaica is known for a lot of things, but one of the things that I think it is most known for is its coffee. My mother told me that when she was young, her family had standing mortars that they used to grind coffee beans in. It was something she enjoyed thoroughly and when they were done grinding and the coffee was made, her father would let her have a taste. In our household the mortar and pestle isn't used as much, but when it is used my mother uses it to mash garlic, rosemary, thyme and a bunch of other spices. She says when you crush it that way you get more flavor out of it as apposed to just chopping it up with the knife. Though this object is usually small in size and may be at the back of some of our kitchens, when it is pulled out and used, we instantly have a feeling of connection and remembrance to our rich Jamaican heritage.

– Rebecca W.

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