Hi -

I just came back from Thailand, and while there I looked for Sechuan
Pepper, which is difficult to find (for me, anyway) in the US, as its
commercial importation appears to be barred.

I found spice jars of something called 'Sechuan Powder' in Foodtown (Soi
5 off Sukhumvit), and while its a bit gritty, requiring further
grinding, it appears to be the right thing, as it leaves the tongue a
little numb (thats my only clue about how it should taste).

In Chiang Mai's Wororot Market, I found a woman selling mainly Indian
spices, but she also had something she called 'Chinese Pepper', and she
could not tell me if it was the same thing as Sechuan Pepper, as she had
never heard this term (not surprising really, as she was not an English
speaker). Anyway, I bought a generous bag of this, and it too appears to
be the real deal.

I declared on my US customs form that I had spices for cooking, and they
did not seem very interested.

So, if you are passing through Thailand (or know anyone doing so), grab
some!

Ian