A taco press, or tortilla press, is a tool used to make corn tortillas. You put the dough into the press, and push it closed, flattening tortilla dough for frying into taco shelves. The taco press was invented in Mexico. Before the invention of the taco press, tortilla dough had to flattened by hand, often using banana leaves. It is very labor intensive work. The first taco presses were made of wood, and used in Mexico. Another traditional style of taco press is one made of cast iron, and are still frequently used today. There are also aluminum and plastic versions, but they are less often used because you have to push harder on them. The weight of cast iron acts as a leverage, and thus is easier to press. Taco presses usually come in two sizes: 6" and 8".