100 washed "mescal beans," which are seeds from the beautiful mountain laurel tree of central Texas. For centuries, the brilliant hard-shelled dark-red beans have served as an important part of rituals among native peoples of the central/southern United States and northern Mexico. The beans are popular for making bandoliers, chokers, and necklaces, and to adorn dresses, shirts, and leggings. They also can be used for home decor/accents (e.g. in a clear glass container, such as a martini glass), or to cultivate seedlings for the mountain laurel tree, which is described this way by the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin, Texas: 

"...very popular as a native evergreen ornamental tree within its range, valued for its handsome, dark green foliage and lush early spring blooms. It is drought-tolerant, prefers rocky limestone soil, and is native from central Texas west to New Mexico and south to San Luis Potosi in Mexico. Like many woody plants native to rocky soils, it is slow growing. The fragrance of Texas mountain laurel flowers is reminiscent of artificial grape products. The brilliant, lacquer red seeds were valued by indigenous people for ornament and ceremonial use..."



NOTE: These beans are undrilled and of "Grade B" quality, meaning they are whole and intact but of an odd shape, size or color, as depicted in main photo.

NOT FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION