Beetlenut Tree Next to the Mission Office

 In Nueva Vizcaya the Ifugao people often chew beetlenuts. You see red stains all over the sidewalks where they spit out some of the juice. Their lips are bright red and their teeth are stained red. They call it mamo. It is somewhat like chewing tobacco and gives people a quick "high." I'm surprised to see so many old women chewing it when I visit that area.

Well come to find out, we have a large beetle nut palm tree right outside the office door. Recently the tree produced a large clump of bright red berries--the berries they chew.

It is interesting how the clump of nuts comes out the side of the tree.

The beetlenuts have fallen to the group. They are a brilliant red when ripe.

We consider it against our "Word of Wisdom" (dietary health code) and so we don't chew it and our missionaries teach against using it. Still the berries were very beautiful.