By Allessandra Inzinna
When family comes over, many will grab the glassware bong sitting on the coffee table and shove it on a shelf somewhere. Not to be seen. Not to be talked about.
Tina Zumarán got tired of that. Hiding implies shame, and Zumarán has nothing to be ashamed of. She’s no longer a daughter who hides her “paraphernalia” from her parents; she’s a mother herself, a successful entrepreneur, and a proud cannabis user.
Zumarán gave birth to two babies this year. One is Mija’s Manera and one is an actual human (a baby girl!). Mija’s Manera sells Talavera ceramic bongs crafted from artists in Puebla, Mexico, who enjoy the natural clay deposits of that area. Talavera is a style of ceramics characterized by hand-painted, ornate designs commonly found on tiles, flower pots, dishware and more. Most will recognize the classic blue and white paint, finished by a milky glaze. Spanish colonizers introduced this style of art to Puebla, Mexico centuries ago, and the craft has since cemented itself in Mexican art and identity.
Mija’s Manera infuses Mexican culture with cannabis, a plant deeply rooted in her cultural heritage. While historically, Mexico was a major source of cannabis in the U.S., shifts toward domestic production have changed the landscape. Despite this, the influence of Mexican cannabis culture remains embedded. Yet, when she walks into the local smoke shop, she sees her culture reduced to caricatures, at most.
“Being a Mexican American is something that I truly am very proud of,” Zumarán said. “And in our culture, we, like other people of color, have been ostracized for the use and admiration of the cannabis plant.”
There’s an element of justice in Zumarán’s business. In a country where black and brown people face much harsher criminalization than white people for possessing cannabis, where those consuming the plant have had to fight stereotyping and relentless judgment from the general public, Mija’s Manera triumphantly rejects that.
The Talavera bongs are too beautiful to stash and hide. They’re centerpieces.
The name “Mija’s Manera” directly translates to “daughter’s way.” It’s a play on some of the slang Zumarán grew up with, mainly calling a woman who smokes cannabis “la marihuanera,” which is seen as a shameful title.
“You don’t want to be a ‘marihuanera;’ you want to be an educated woman who can have a nice glass of wine. That’s seen as elite,” she shares. “But that doesn’t bring me comfort and peace.”
With Mija’s Manera, Zumarán is luring you out of the shadows. Leave your bong on the table. Dare others to pass judgment, and if they do, offer them a rip. Let the daughters have their way.
Visit mijasmanera.com to get your hands on your own centerpiece!
Use code PLANTMAMA to save 20% on purchases through Monday, May 13, 2024.
