Only 6 available
The word molcajete comes from the Náhuatl mollicaxtli: molli (salsa) and caxitl (vessel). Literally, a vessel for salsa. It is one of the oldest kitchen tools in the world, and still one of the best.
Our molcajetes are carved by hand from volcanic stone in the rural community of San Salvador el Seco, in the state of Puebla, a place known throughout Mexico for its craftsmanship and the quality of every stone it uses. We brought them home directly from our partner in Mexico, who works closely with local artisans. Each piece is unique, with small variations in shape and texture that are part of its character.
With each molcajete you're not only getting a beautiful kitchen tool, but a thousand-year-old gastronomic tradition, made by rural artisans whose craft it helps to keep alive.
Choose your option
- Molcajete – 995 kr
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Molcajete + Starting – Mexico – 1 229 kr (value 1 324 kr – you save 95 kr)
Get everything you need for your first salsa. Starting – Mexico includes whole Ancho, Guajillo and Pasilla chilies (80g each) – the “holy trinity” of Mexican cooking – plus our Mexican Chili Powder (25g). The perfect gift for anyone who loves Mexican food.
Important: cure before first use
A new molcajete needs to be cured to remove loose grit from the stone. It takes about an hour, and you only do it once.
- Rinse and scrub the molcajete and pestle with a stiff brush and water only, no soap. Let it dry.
- Grind raw white rice, a handful at a time, using a firm circular motion against the sides. The rice will turn grey from the stone dust. Discard it, rinse, and repeat until the rice stays almost white.
- Grind garlic, a little cumin and coarse salt into a paste and spread it over the inside. Let it sit for a while, then rinse with water.
- Let it air dry. Your molcajete is now ready to use.
Care
- Rinse with warm water and a brush after use. Never use soap – the porous stone will absorb it.
- Let it air dry completely before storing.
- Never put it in the dishwasher, and never heat it over a direct flame.
- The more you use it, the better it gets. Over time the stone becomes seasoned with the flavours of everything you've made in it.
Watch: Emanuel makes salsa verde
See the molcajete in action as Emanuel grinds grilled green tomatoes, garlic, onion and chili into a fresh, smoky salsa verde.
Get Emanuel’s full salsa verde recipe →
Why volcanic stone?
The rough, porous surface doesn't just chop. It crushes and grinds, releasing the essential oils in spices, garlic and chilies for a fuller, rounder flavour and a beautiful rustic texture. Heavy and stable, it stays put while you work, and it looks stunning on the table when you serve straight from it.
See the Cooking section for more techniques and recipes.
Details
- Material: Natural volcanic stone
- Includes: Mortar (molcajete) and pestle (tejolote)
- Size: Approx. 21 cm wide, 16 cm high
- Weight: Approx. 5 kg
- Hand-carved in San Salvador el Seco, Puebla, Mexico
- Each piece is unique; size and shape may vary slightly
Shipping & pick-up
Due to its weight (approx. 5 kg), the molcajete is shipped as a heavy parcel and carefully packed to protect the stone. You're also welcome to pick it up from us in Stockholm.
Complete your Mexican kitchen
- Ancho Chili – sweet, fruity and mildly smoky, the backbone of many moles
- Pasilla – dark, rich and raisin-like, perfect for deep salsas
- Guajillo – bright, tangy and mild, a classic for red salsas
- Fully Matured Poblano – smoky and chocolatey
- Holy Trinity – Ancho, Guajillo and Pasilla in one bag
- Mexican Chili Powder and Taco Blend – for quick, flavourful weeknight cooking
Free Shipping: Over 600 sek in Sweden
Shipping: From 39 sek
Send-outs: Every Monday & Thursday
Returns: 100% happiness guarantee. Read more here
Closed for pickups and order send outs during Easter 17-25 april
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We have a 100% happiness policy when you buy our spices. If the spices do not succeed to wow you we will make sure to refund/re-send other flavors to make sure you are 100% happy with your purchase.
If your order is damaged or broken in transit, we are happy to refund/re-send, simply email us your order # and images to hello@thepepperquest.com
For food safety reasons, we are unable to accept returns on opened products, but will do whatever we can to make sure you are happy with your purchase!
Please note that the policy lasts 30 days. If 30 days have gone by since your purchase, unfortunately we can’t offer you a refund or exchange.
Explore more regional spices and other flavors that complement your cooking.
At the moment we only ship within Scandinavia. Shipping costs will apply, and will be added at checkout. We run discounts and promotions all year, so stay tuned for exclusive deals. If you are located outside Scandinavia, don't be discouraged! Send us an email and we will see what we can sort out for you!
We love food, we love the discovery, flavor combinations and we want to learn, spread that knowledge and collaborate. We asked questions that no one could answer, so we had to go and find the answers ourselves. We love that it is a rediscovery of something very known to us all , yet has the possibility to teach us something completely new. We love what food brings to the table, the meeting, the ceremony, the bridging of cultures.
We are so proud to work closely with top restaurants in Scandinavia, focusing on quality and taste.
We recommend that you head over to Mattias Dahlgren and Rutabaga, Resturant AG, Airia, Frantzens, Warung, Nour, DoMa and many more if you like to bite into one of our peppercorns and spices. But hey, send us an email if you think your favorite restaurant should have our pepper.
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We work closely with our small scale farmers who uses traditional methods when growing their pepper and spices, like organic compost and no usage of pesticides. The usage of pesticides directly affects the flavor of the product.
We have connected with our farmers directly, meaning no middle hand. But this also means that they run smaller farms with no organic certifications. As our business grows we will able to take the next steps towards certifications. Stay tuned!
Finding the source, is finding the answer. We quest for unique high quality pepper and spices. We work harvest based and single origin only, meaning we only sell pepper from farmers we know. Many times we have tasted and smelled a spice knowing that there are more more lines of inquiry before reaching the very origin of the spice and the people who are cultivating it. Our way of working is special because we actually go to the farmers and we don't stop questing until we found the best of the best.
Mostly it is curiosity, openness and intuition that leads you to the right path.
Tax included.
We research, always knowing that it's when we go local we actually meet the right people. We make sure to live, eat, listen, dream and drink with our farmers and partners. From here we can start to see where we have common ground so we can create a value based foundation that support both of our needs. It is also very important that the partners and farmers we work with are anchored within their communities, so that generative development and liveihoods can be supported by our collaboration.
