subject: The History of the Molcajete Pig [print this page] The History of the Molcajete Pig The History of the Molcajete Pig
A molcajete pig is a Mexican mortar which is a rounded container designed to be used with a pestle, a long tool used to grind up the food ingredients. Over time it became common place to create decorated mortars, most often to make them in the shape of an animal. In Mexico, the most popular and traditional design is that of a pig. The molcajete pig is used to pound hard food materials, crush as well as grind herbs and spices or prepare pureed foods. They are also used to crush corn and other grains used to create many different types of dishes in Mexico. An essential element of any traditional Mexican households or restaurant, they are dubbed as the best way to prepare the most authentic and flavorful traditional foods.
Interestingly enough, Molcajete pig mortars were first developed as a result of the grinding of coarse foods over time causing stone bowls to form a hollow dip in the shape of a bowl. They traditionally have 3 legs at the bottom of the bowl, which is intended to pay homage to the god of the hearth. In addition to this the triangle is the most stable base. This allows the Molcajete pig not to tip when grinding foods in the bowl.
The earliest known location of the molcajete pig is Tehuacan Valley, what is now known as present-day Mexico. They have been in existence for almost 6000 years now. Archeological expeditions over time have found remains of these ancient molcajete and the recovered mortars have provided evidence about what Mesoamericans ate. Molcajete pig mortars were conventionally carved out of basalt which is a volcanic rock. Today, not all molcajetes are made out of the same material as even the porous rocks or plastics are considered for creating the molcajete pig. But the authentic and best material used is the basalt stone. This stone provides for the best surface to grind and chop up a wide array of different foods.
If you are looking for the best way to produce the most authentic Mexican food that captures the traditional flavors, start with a good, traditional Molcajete pig mortar. You can be sure that using a basalt carved Molcajete pig is a tried and tested tool to produce the best flavors. An application for more than 6000 years cannot go wrong at all. What say?
