Mortars and pestles have been used for centuries to prepare ingredients into fine pastes and powders for cooking and meal prep. These uniquely and individually handcrafted tools are each made from a solid piece of genuine olive wood from trees in Israel.
The Qiesieh family, the artisans who make these beautifully handcrafted mortar and pestle sets as a way to provide for themselves, own souvenir shops in both Bethlehem and Jerusalem. For many years they have made their living crafting olive wood items such as figurines and nativity scenes for tourists.
However, when the coronavirus hit in 2020, tourism stopped and so did sales in their shops.
The Qiesiehs barely had enough food to fill their stomachs, so they were forced to barter their beautiful olive wood for meat.
My Olive Tree heard about their plight and reached out to help. George and Elijah, the two Qiesieh brothers who own their souvenir shops and do all of the woodworking themselves, were thrilled when we asked them to create these unique, one-of-a-kind, olive wood mortar and pestle sets, exclusively made for the My Olive Tree online store.
Your purchase of every mortar and pestle set helps the Qiesieh family in Israel overcome financial needs in this difficult time by providing the extra income necessary to put food on their table.
Thank you!