In the memory of my bisabuela, the Molcajete is crafted from volcanic stone; the rough rock surface and texture demonstrates its functionality. The bowl is deep and wide, with the Tejolote the ingredients are mixed and ground together, letting out a strong smell of hot spices. The Molcajete and Tejolote are the indigenous version of a mortar and pestle. It is a traditional Mexican kitchen tool that originates back to pre-Hispanic times for grinding grains and spices. Molcajete comes from the Nahuatl words Mollicaxtli and Temolcaxitl, which means a bowl of stone for making a spice sauce. 
This specific Molcajete has been through the hands of my bisabuela (great-grandmother), then passed on to my Abuelita from her home country in Mexico, to immigrating to the United States in Nevada, Las Vegas. This Molcajete hasn’t left home, which continued as a tradition for the strong women in the family. My Abuelita told me, this Molcajete had changed very much, after my great-grandmother passed away. The Molcajete is not the same as before. Though bisabuela's presence there would be a warm touch in the kitchen. As she used the Tejolote delicately, the sound of spices crushed softly making the food have such a unique taste and smell. Abuelita even says her own spice sauces taste much different to bisuela’s way of cooking. The Molcajete is not the same without my bisabuela, it is linked with the memory of our family ancestral roots.

– Megan Ocampo B.

Relationship:  Grandchild of im/migrant Grandchild of im/migrant