The grinder, mill or chiltepinero is a kind of special mortar, a craft made with wood (ironwood tree) that is very useful for grinding chiltepines, pepper, herbs or other species; It is also a nice gift as decoration at home. These mortars have a hole in the top where there are two or three chilitos to grind with a pistil and then pour them on the food. Mexican ironwood carvings is a handcraft that began with the Seri indigenous people of the state of Sonora, Mexico. The wood comes from Olneya tesota, a Sonora Desert tree commonly called ironwood (palo fierro in Spanish). It is a slow growing important shade tree found in northwest Mexico and the southwest U.S (Arizona/az). The wood it produces is so dense that it lacks air bubbles and sinks in water. There may be natural imperfections in the wood, which also adds to the unique character of each piece.