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:
> 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.
>
>
> "Falky foo" > wrote in message
> . com...
> > Hmm? Wasn't it legalized in '95 in the US?
> >
> >