So why was the pu illegal anyway?

Thanks to Clinton administration! He may like a cuppa with Monica now and then. With a cigar. BTW, being an anti-Clintonite at the time, I admit my sins and would gladly have them back and do all they want in Lincoln bedroom. Or anyplace for that matter. As a Conservative Republican I feel that a life of a soldier or an Iraqi civilian worth a thousand blue dresses.

Sasha.

Well-wishing but ignorant minds of US Customs beurocrats decided to protect the public against being fooled into buying "spoiled" tea. But because "spoiled" and "fermented" are different sides of the same process.... Anything that looked weird and/or smelled of fermentation was considered spoiled (these cunning Chinese!). That is how Puer was outlawed. Clinton administration for some reason was more advanced in the field of weird smells (perhaps the result of sexual sophistication) or may be that Oriental friend of Clinton (restaurant owner, remember?) introduced Bill to the magic of puerh. One way or another Customs were educated and puer liberated.

Sasha.

Alex Chaihorsky3tkef.19999$ snipped-for-privacy@newssvr25.news.prodigy.net11/15/05

Now, if we could just get the damned stuff banned in Japan and Taiwan, maybe we could afford to buy it again. Michael

Loose and tuochas have always been available in Chinatown. It's just the past few years cakes and bricks have shown up. I think there was period in the fifties or sixties where the Chinese governement banned export but was sneaked out through Hong Kong. If there were a ban perse then look for new government mandate by Congress to justify a bureaucrats existence. It wouldn't surprise me when you look at the hysteria over the morning after pill, ephedra, steroids.

JIm

Alex Chaihorsky wrote: