Piedra Morada Molcajetes

Nestled in the south-eastern corner of Oaxaca’s Valles Centrales region, the village of Magdalena Teitipac is adorned with an abundance of purple volcanic rock. The cathedral that adjoins the town square, and which dates from the colonial period, features walls and other constructions made from the stone; it can likewise be found in similar architectural contexts in other parts of the community.

A custom that predates the church and other buildings is the creation of molcajetes from that same stone. Much of the production of molcajetes in Mexico has moved to the states of Puebla and Guanajuato, where they are produced from more common rock at an industrial scale. However, a few families continue to produce molcajetes in Teitipac using the indigenous piedra morada.