“Wasabi” is a spicy paste famous in Japan, and that is the green stuff that comes with sushi. In Japan, wasabi is prepared by grating the rhizome (the underground stem) of Wasabia japonica. Outside of Japan, the wasabi served in restaurants is mostly an inexpensive imitation made with a mixture of horseradish, mustard powder, and green food coloring.
Key Differences
| Feature | Real Wasabi (Hon-wasabi) | Imitation Wasabi |
| Ingredients | Grated Wasabia japonica rhizome. | Primarily European horseradish, mustard, and green food coloring. |
| Flavor | A complex, clean spiciness that stimulates the nasal passages with a quick, dissipating heat, followed by a slightly sweet aftertaste. | A harsher, blander, and more pungent heat that lingers longer than real wasabi. |
| Texture | Slightly gritty, as it is freshly grated. | Smooth and thick paste. |
| Availability | Rare and expensive; typically found in high-end restaurants. | Widely available in most supermarkets and everyday sushi restaurants. |
Wasabi is served with sushi for both flavor enhancement and historical food safety reasons. Its natural compounds have antimicrobial properties that help inhibit bacterial growth in raw fish, which was particularly important before the advent of modern refrigeration.
Note: If you are referring to the green, jagged plastic grass sometimes found in pre-packaged sushi containers, that is called baran and is strictly a decorative divider used for presentation and to keep flavors from mixing. It is not meant to be eaten.
What Is Wasabi? The Green Stuff That Comes With Sushi when Served?
Known in science as Wasabia japonica or Eutrema japonicum, this plant now has a lot of people talking about it since it is a spicy horseradish condiment made in Japan and has recently added to sushi, sashimi, and Japanese noodles (like udon, etc.).
Also called Japanese horseradish, this green stuff that comes with sushi is actually made out of a plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family, together with such vegetables as radishes, horseradish, and mustard plants. More like a root than a spice, real wasabi is based on the underground stem of the wasabi plant called a rhizome. Chefs scrape this tube to make real wasabi paste, using a process similar to grating ginger, though wasabi has a less fibrous texture. Despite the name, this product clearly differs from its European horseradish cousins, since they are not the same plant, even though they belong to the same family.
What Is the Difference Between Real Wasabi and Fake Wasabi?
In Japan or in Japanese food restaurants, “wasabi” is available everywhere. But really, if you think you tasted it before, chances are you did not. Those who have only had their taste of “wasabi” outside of Japan have most likely been experiencing its imitation or fake subsistence.
In Japanese, hon-wasabi (shown in the picture) refers to the native Japanese wasabi plant, while seiyo-wasabi names European horseradish, also called wasabi-daikon. When people talk about the green stuff that comes with sushi, they are often referring to one of these two options. Although native Japanese wasabi represents the real thing, European horseradish costs far less, and manufacturers commonly use it to create fake powdered ‘wasabi’ and other imitation products. Seiyo-wasabi typically contains only a small percentage of real wasabi, and producers dye it green to resemble the paste served with sushi, making it a much cheaper alternative.
Why Is Real Wasabi So Expensive?
It is one of the most expensive cultivations because the plant can be grown only in very specific environmental conditions. This might be the reason behind a lot of people outside Japan not having tasted real wasabi.
Real wasabi is very expensive because it is one of the hardest plants to cultivate and needs very specific conditions. The wasabi plant in Japan naturally grows in river valleys of mountain areas, where it can run along river stream beds.
Such a rare environment is nearly impossible to find, which explains why the green stuff that comes with sushi is so expensive. Another difficult cultivation requirement is keeping the stems partially submerged in clear, running water. Growing wasabi commercially without the natural stream beds found in Japan’s mountain river valleys becomes exceedingly difficult, making true wasabi a rare and costly delicacy.
Some local areas of wasabi production in Japan include Nagano, Iwate, and Shimane. However, the main area of wasabi cultivation is the Izu Peninsula in Shizuoka, accounting for some 70% of the wasabi production in Japan.
What Does Wasabi Taste Like?
What is the flavor of wasabi, and is it similar for both real and imitative samples? The short answers are “spicy” and “yes.” Distinctly pungent in flavor, wasabi has a taste similar to hot mustard in that its spiciness hits the nose rather than the tongue like a chili pepper does. True, freshly grated wasabi delivers a very clean yet gentle initial spiciness that hits your nostrils, followed by a subtle, fleeting heat. Compared with real wasabi, fake wasabi can be hot and zingy too, but not as clean in the mouth.
What Are the Health Benefits of Wasabi?
As tasty as hon-wasabi is with sushi, it is packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and a whole host of health benefits. Wasabi contains the main class of active compounds called isothiocyanates (ITCs), which give this root vegetable its set of health benefits, which range from antibacterial to anti-inflammatory effects. It has a very powerful ability to kill some harmful bacteria that enter the body through food, besides helping boost the immune system and detoxifying harmful toxins from the body.
Here are some of the health benefits of wasabi:
- Wasabi boosts the immune system.
- Good for gut health.
- Helpful for arthritis and other bone-related issues.
- May lower the risk of cancer.
- May lower the risk of heart disease and protect heart health.
- Has anti-inflammatory properties for joints and muscles.
- Has antibacterial properties & kills food-borne bacteria.
- May help alleviate the negative impact of seasonal allergies.
- May heal respiratory ailments.
- Could support fat loss.
Final Thought
At Sushi Inc., we don’t just serve sushi, we serve the experience behind it. From fresh cuts of fish to the green stuff that comes with sushi, perfectly paired wasabi, everything matters. Whether your curiosity is about real wasabi or you’re simply craving expertly crafted rolls, we invite you to experience authentic flavor done right.
Are you hungry? Visit Sushi Inc. today, place your order, and elevate your sushi experience bite by bite from the comfort of your home.
