Kitchen Implements of Traditional Mexican Cuisine
In Pátzcuaro, you can find a wide variety
of traditional Mexican kitchen
implements that date from the pre-Hispanic era. Michoacán was at the top of the list when they named Mexican cuisine as an “Immaterial Cultural Heritage of Humanity”
by UNESCO: “Traditional Mexican Cuisine: Community Culture that is
ancestral and alive – the Michoacán paradigm.”
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| Traditional Mexican Kitchen Implements |
This
“immaterial heritage” is made up of expressions, techniques, uses, and acquired
knowledges, including implements.
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| Traditional Mexican Kitchen in Patzcuaro, Michoacán |
Hotel Mansión Iturbe invites you to support the preservation
of the Mexican traditions and cultural heritage of Mexico, by buying some of
these implements, some of which are listed below:
1. Molcajete:
The name comes from the náhuatl molli, which means “stew” or
“sauce, and caxitl, meaning “basin.” It is a mortar made
of volcanic rock, with three legs, in which you can grind numerous ingredients
with a pestle of the same type of rock.
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| Molcajete a Traditional Mexican Cuisine Kitchen Implement |
2. Metate: This is probably the most important of the ancestral utensils, and one which we have all seen in various ancient cultures, since it is used for grinding of the almighty corn which is the basis of Mexican cuisine – and the culture and identity of the Mexican people. The metate is a rectangular volcanic stone that is used together with the metlapil whose meaning in nahuatl is the “roller” of the metate. It is used to grind different ingredients, including maize, cocoa, and chiles.
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| Metate a Traditional Mexican Cuisine Kitchen Implement |
Molcajetes and metates are the two fundamentals of Mexican cuisine. The Luis Angél Pérez's family has been making these utensils for generations in the small village of San Nicolas Obispo near Capula.
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| Luis Angel Perez Family has been making Molcajetes and Metates for generations |
3. Comal: Also from náhuatl, comalli, the traditional comal is made of clay and is used to make corn tortillas over fire. You can find these clay comales in traditional Mexican kitchens in the Lake Region, though the metal comales are used more and more.
Mexican Tradictional Cuisine. Comal & Clay Pot
4. Clay
pots: In our area, clay pots can be found of many varieties, and of
any size that will fit on the stovetop or in the oven – pottery in the Lake Pátzcuaro area is rich and diverse, and pots
may be finished with burnishing, glazing, or any number of techniques.
They are so beautiful that they are sometimes used to simply decorate a shelf
or countertop.
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| Clay Pots: Mexican Traditional Kitchen Implements |
5. Wooden
Kitchen Implements: Artisans of our region are pros when it comes to
carving out wooden spoons, whether they be of the simplest design or with
intricately carved handles. Zirahuén
is one of the best places to find these spoons, which can be teaspoon size or
large enough to stir a large caldron.
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| Wooden Kichen Implements made in Michoacan, Mexico |
6. Molinillo: In Michoacán we find communities where their primary focus is wooden utensils. The molinillo, which is a work of art in itself, is an interesting variation or our more familiar egg beater (again, of various designs and sizes). It can be used to make frothy chocolate – or if you have a little patience and energy, to whip up some unwhipped whipping cream. You’ll find this gadget in many markets in Pátzcuaro and other artisan centers in our area.
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| Molinillo: Traditional Mexican Cuisine Kitchen Implements |
Go shopping in Pátzcuaro and augment your
kitchen utensils with that Mexican touch.
*Text, pictures & video property of Hotel Mansión Iturbe.
We invite you to check more articles in our blog, you will find information about Pátzcuaro and its surroundings, that we hope will be useful for your next trip to our colonial town in Mexico.
Here are some post that we suggest you:
Hotel Mansión Iturbe
Portal Morelos 59
Plaza Vasco de Quiroga
61600 Pátzcuaro, Michoacán.
México
Tel: +52 (434) 342 0368 / 342 3628
Fax: +52(434) 342 3627
Toll Free fax number USA & CANADA: 1-866 678 6102
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