What is wasabi?

With the rise of sushi restaurants and the increasing popularity of Japanese cuisine, wasabi is no longer an unfamiliar taste to many of us.

But what exactly is that green stuff?

Wasabi is made from the Wasabia japonica. This plants looks like horseradish. Wasabi is made from one specific part of the root, the rhizome or the root stock. This is about 3 centimeters thick and grows underground.

Before it made its appearance in Japanese cuisine, wasabi was used as a medicine. It is only since 1800 that it was used as a culinary ingredient, more specifically in fish sauces. At first it was thought that wasabi could be used as a preservative, to neutralise the dominant fish odor and to keep bacteria at bay.

The real Wasabia japonica is a rare plant and therefore it is an expensive commodity. That is why many variants are made from horseradish.

At Ranobo, you will find the spicy, mustard-like wasabi flavor in the Ravioli Wasabi and the Ravioli Wasabi Red. These are roasted peanuts in a crunchy coating with wasabi herbs. The red variant is slightly milder.

We also have wasabi peanuts within our Food Service products. These are roasted peanuts seasoned with wasabi spices. These peanuts are also used in the Wasabi mix.