Have you tried…

You might know wasabi as a pungent paste that accompanies sushi, but have you tried it fresh?

What is it?

Wasabia japonica is a member of the brassica family. The wasabi stem is formed at the base of the plant and grows upwards, taking up to two years to reach maturity. The stem is grated to produce wasabi paste. Wasabi is di icult and expensive to cultivate, so many wasabi pastes and powders contain very little wasabi – check the ingredients!

What does it taste like?

The lavour of fresh wasabi is produced when the individual cell walls inside the rhizome are broken

down by grating the stems to a very ine paste. This instigates a chemical reaction to create wasabi’s unique pungent heat.

How should I use it?

Wasabi is wonderful with sushi and steak. It’s great for pepping up dressings and marinades or mixed into mayo. If you want to freeze wasabi, grate, wrap and freeze it immediately.

Where can I get it?

The Wasabi Company (thewasabicompany. co.uk) is the only grower of wasabi in the UK. It’s grown in lowing spring water to mimic the traditional Japanese techniques used for thousands of years. It’s loved by top restaurants, including Umu, Ynyshir Hall, Gordon Ramsay and The Raby Hunt. Since lockdown, the business now sells to home cooks as well as restaurants. The company also has wasabi-based condiments, including mayonnaise and mustard, as well as other Japanese ingredients like soy sauce and miso.