TAJKAE
Tajkae, meaning “making tortillas” in the Yaqui language, is a tortilla press that merges tradition with innovation, honoring both the existing press and the tortilla itself.
Inspired by pre-Hispanic motifs and modern Mexican architecture, this tortilla press innovates on functionality while fitting seamlessly into the warmth of the Mexican home. Tajkae embodies both efficiency and artistry, emphasizing handcrafted tools—a tradition that remains vital yet is increasingly at risk of being lost due to modernization.
PROJECT DETAILS
The traditional tortilla press—a staple in Mexican kitchens—often produces uneven tortillas due to its century-old mechanism, which remains unchanged. Skilled cooks compensate by rotating and pressing the dough multiple times. This project explores refining the press to create perfectly flat tortillas in one press while celebrating its cultural roots.
The design pays homage to traditional presses and draws inspiration from pre-Hispanic Indigenous sculptural motifs and modern Mexican architecture, including breezeblocks, a defining feature of the urban landscape.
FUNCTIONALITY + CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
Keep plates parallel to ensure two flat planes at all times
Keep force in the center for even distribution of pressure
Move top plate up and over for easy access to work surface
