The hand-held grinding tool paired with a molcajete is called a tejolote.
A molcajete is a traditional Mesoamerican stone mortar, while the tejolote is its matching pestle. Both are commonly carved from basalt, a volcanic rock whose rough surface helps crush ingredients effectively. The names come from Nahuatl: molcajete derives from molcaxitl, and tejolote from texolotl.
Molcajetes have been used for thousands of years in Mexico and elsewhere in Mesoamerica. They are associated with grinding chilies, spices, tomatoes, herbs, salsa ingredients, and avocados for guacamole. The tool is not merely decorative: its porous, textured interior provides a different result from a smooth metal or ceramic mortar.
A common mix-up is metate, which is a larger grinding slab used with a mano or metlapil, traditionally for grains and seeds. A comal is a flat griddle, while a tortillero is generally a tortilla container or warmer. New basalt molcajetes are often seasoned by grinding rice through them to remove loose stone particles.