'Chinese' tequila worries Mexico

[douglas9]

Source: BBC News

'Chinese' tequila worries Mexico
Mexican politicians are demanding action to protect the tequila industry from Chinese competition.

The lower house of Congress voted to urge the government to stop Chinese firms patenting maguey - a type of agave cactus used in tequila.

MPs are also worried that Chinese and Japanese firms could target the market in another cactus species, nopal.

Nopal leaves are increasingly popular in the US, where there is already strong demand for tequila.

"Nopal and Maguey are Mexican plants and if we don't take the necessary measures in time, we run the risk of losing the denomination of origin", Cesar Duarte, the deputy who sponsored the move, told the Efe news agency.

Read more: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/7116602.stm

---

Guess nothin is sacred to the Chinese, huh?

[cain_7777]

1. Leaded or unleaded tequila

and how is it sacred?

[douglas9]

13. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)

6. secured against violation, infringement, etc., as by reverence or sense of right

[PittPoliSci]

24. my thought's exactly.

[On the Road]

2. Lots of Semi-Arid Land in Central China

to grow those agaves on. It could be a flood of tequila.

[YOY]

3. I will always prefer my Tequilla to be Mexican

Anyone with any taste will.

[GodlessBiker]

4. Hey, ya know, not all wine is made in France.

Although some will say that all good wine is.

Why would we think that Chinese tequila is any better than Chinese toys?

[L0oniX]

5. I guess they have their own little NAFTA problem

[Psephos]

18. China isn't part of NAFTA

technically speaking, of course

[eagler]

26. But they own much of Mexico

[Javaman]

6. Gives a whole new meaning to life when thinking about "eating the worm"...

...shutter... :scared:

[conspirator]

7. Chinese tequilla? Must be something like 1% tequilla mixed with chemical waste nt

[april]

9. ditto

[ngant17]

21. their additives might increase its potency

besides, good old Mexican tequila will make you pretty wild as it is. I can vouch for that.

[Kali]

8. Nopal is prickly pear - i think it grows in many places all over the world now

I don't know of any distilled beverages made form it although I know people who have tried to make wine from the fruits (tunas).

[MikeNearMcChord]

10. Sorry, I get my tequila from Mexico, Vodka from Russia or

Finland, Sake from Japan and rum from the Caribbean.

[Bake]

11. And my bourbon from KENTUCKY!!!!!

Bake

[meegbear]

12. You forgot Poland ...

Finland vodka???? How about some Norwegian wine while your at it.

[Bicoastal]

14. Come on--Finlandia is great!

It's the only world's only Vodka that has an entire work of classical music devoted to it. (Jean Sibelius, 1899)

[meegbear]

15. And Poland has a composer ...

[kysrsoze]

20. Sweden too. I don't care where it comes from as long as it's good - EXCEPT CHINA

[MikeNearMcChord]

23. Ah Yes Poland! Good Call!

[Lone_Star_Dem]

16. Does this mean I can petition Mexico to come and remove the prickly pears from my property?

While I may be willing to do that, I'm not letting them confiscate my jelly. I picked the tunas off those wicked cacti myself and thus earned the right to keep it. :P

[boobooday]

17. Mexico shouldn't worry

Nobody can take away their standing in the world of TEQUILA-making.

What are we talking about here, Jose Chan? Just doesn't have the same flair.

Bartender from Three Amigos: "It's like beer!"

[AlphaCentauri]

19. Margarita in Chinese

With Chinquila

[judaspriestess]

22. How much lead will be in the Chinese tequila?

I say about 50%

[burrowowl]

25. or the wrong type of alcohol

or used anti-freeze in Chinese tequila.