Real Wasabi

[Shel_B]

5 hours ago, FrogPrincesse said:

For sure (Nijiya has it). You can use instacart to see if any stores have it close to where you live.

I looked at every wasabi-labeled product at Nijiya that I could call up, and there was nothing but fake wasabi items or items that was said to contain real wasabi but which was adulterated with numerous other, often polysyllabic-named, ingredients.

 

Instacart wasn't much better. although I did find one product made by Sushi Sonic that was 100% freeze-dried wasabi.  It seems to be widely available, both online and in some local markets.  If someone is looking for this, be careful, as they have another product, in an almost identical container, that's only 51% wasabi, with the balance being horseradish and mustard.

[FrogPrincesse]

This is where Nijiya gets their fresh wasabi from. If Nijiya is out, you can buy directly from them.

 

https://hmbwasabi.com

[liuzhou]

2 hours ago, Shel_B said:

I looked at every wasabi-labeled product at Nijiya that I could call up, and there was nothing but fake wasabi items or items that was said to contain real wasabi but which was adulterated with numerous other, often polysyllabic-named, ingredients.

 

That is the case for 98% of "wasabi", even in Japan. Even when they do contain some real wasabi it's usually in trace amounts, listed last or near to last in the ingredients (see the S&B powder image posted by @Tropicalsenior above. The safest way is to buy the rhizome, if possible, and grate it yourself. Of course you'll also want a genuine sharkskin grater for that.

 

Here's mine

 

 

 

[Katie Meadow]

8 hours ago, Shel_B said:

It doesn't, already checked.  Maybe in San Francisco's Japanese neighborhood, but driving or public transit to the area would be a last resort.

I assume you have tried Tokyo Market and Ranch 99? 

[Shel_B]

4 hours ago, Katie Meadow said:

I assume you have tried Tokyo Market and Ranch 99? 

Not yet, but soon.

[Duvel]

Out of curiosity: why do you want to buy „real“ wasabi ?

[Shel_B]

6 hours ago, Duvel said:

Out of curiosity: why do you want to buy „real“ wasabi ?

To experiment with and explore new-to-me flavors, textures, and techniques.  Thinking about tradition and how it's changed over time, and to use traditional flavors and techniques in my cooking. To offer my guests something they've not tried before.

[Shel_B]

11 hours ago, liuzhou said:

 The safest way is to buy the rhizome, if possible, and grate it yourself. Of course you'll also want a genuine sharkskin grater for that.

 

Here's mine

 

 

 

What are the dimensions of your grater?  I have big hands and want a grater that's comfortable to hold and use.  Any advice?

[rotuts]

ive had real wasabi twice.

 

grated from the rhizome at the table .

 

its flavor is very interesting , and changes in a few minutes  , 2 - 3 

 

from the grated amount .  in 2 -3 minutes its still interesting  , but not the same as the first tastes.

 

its expensive to manufacture ,as it grows in a ' pond like ' aquaculture  it seems 

 

like lilly pads .  and the environment is tightly controlled it seems .

 

trying to extract every dollar , Im guessing that there is dried powdered leaf and stem.

 

never tasted those fresh

 

but based on what i tasted , and how it changed in minutes 

 

my guess is that dried powdered genuine rhizome  is also going to be different 

 

from freshly grated .

 

thus the expense of getting fresh rhizome  

 

vs powdered  rhizome , leaf and stem.

 

let us know where you buy the fresh rhizome 

 

consider taking some pics of what you get 

 

and  what you freshly grate 

 

if you get some powdered , please also describe the various kinds and 

 

their taste differenced .

 

you might be the only one on eG  with that information .

 

also , when you share w your guests , what do they say about the fresh stuff ?

 

 

Edited June 23 by rotuts (log)

[liuzhou]

 

18 minutes ago, Shel_B said:

What are the dimensions of your grater?  I have big hands and want a grater that's comfortable to hold and use.  Any advice?

 

They come in various sizes.

 

 

I have the second one. I live alone and that one suits me fine.I never need to grate much.

 

Edited June 23 by liuzhou (log)

[Shel_B]

3 hours ago, rotuts said:

ive had real wasabi twice.

 

grated from the rhizome at the table .

 

its flavor is very interesting , and changes in a few minutes  , 2 - 3 

 

from the grated amount .  in 2 -3 minutes its still interesting  , but not the same as the first tastes.

 

its expensive to manufacture ,as it grows in a ' pond like ' aquaculture  it seems 

 

like lilly pads .  and the environment is tightly controlled it seems .

 

trying to extract every dollar , Im guessing that there is dried powdered leaf and stem.

 

never tasted those fresh

 

but based on what i tasted , and how it changed in minutes 

 

my guess is that dried powdered genuine rhizome  is also going to be different 

 

from freshly grated .

 

thus the expense of getting fresh rhizome  

 

vs powdered  rhizome , leaf and stem.

 

let us know where you buy the fresh rhizome 

 

consider taking some pics of what you get 

 

and  what you freshly grate 

 

if you get some powdered , please also describe the various kinds and 

 

their taste differenced .

 

you might be the only one on eG  with that information .

 

also , when you share w your guests , what do they say about the fresh stuff ?

 

 

I'm just starting my investigation into how wasabi is grown here in the US and Canada.  Thus far, and in part with suggestions here, I've found five US and Canadian growers, one of which is a short drive south of me.  It's an easy day trip and the farm is located in a scenic area with some nice restaurants and other amenities.

 

I'm starting to read some articles and blog posts to get a better understanding of how wasabi is cultivated and what to look for and consider when buying and using wasabi, including, perhaps, uses and recipes beyond just as an accompaniment to raw fish.  After reading  these articles, I'd like to drive down to purchase some rhizomes, leaves, and stems, and start experimenting a bit.  At this point I don't even know if such a visit would be acceptable to the growers but that should be easy to find out.

 

https://californiagrown.org/blog/learn-how-real-wasabi-is-grown/

Edited June 23 by Shel_B (log)

[FrogPrincesse]

Indeed, it’s Half Moon Bay Wasabi, the same place I sent you the info about earlier that sells to Nijiya and high end restaurants.

 

https://hmbwasabi.com

Edited June 23 by FrogPrincesse (log)

[FrogPrincesse]

From ”driving as a last resort” to a full-on wasabi day trip.

 

 

[rotuts]

why not post the entire trip 

 

reviews,  pics  etc on the 

 

Food Traditions & Culture

 

thread ?

 

''''    

Culture, tradition, history, discoveries, and culinary travel not limited to one region. Lifestyles, diet and nutrition; food mores, etiquette and entertaining.  '''

 

looking forward to it , as Im sure many others are !

[Shel_B]

6 minutes ago, FrogPrincesse said:

From ”driving as a last resort” to a full-on wasabi day trip.

@FrogPrincesse, A drive to Half Moon Bay is pleasant and filled with nice scenery and enjoyable side trips.  I could even make an overnight trip out of it and stay at one or another nice B&Bs.  Plus, I can enjoy the company of one or another companions for a drive to HMB, not so easily accomplished for a run into San Francisco to a grocery store. 

 

A trip to San Francisco is not so enjoyable. The traffic is often annoying and unpleasant, parking is difficult or expensive, and the scenery offers little that is uplifting to the senses.  To avoid the unpleasantness of taking a car into SF, more than likely I'd take public transit, a less than stellar experience and one for which finding a companion would be unlikely.

[Shel_B]

24 minutes ago, rotuts said:

why not post the entire trip 

 

reviews,  pics  etc on the 

 

Food Traditions & Culture

 

thread ?

 

''''    

Culture, tradition, history, discoveries, and culinary travel not limited to one region. Lifestyles, diet and nutrition; food mores, etiquette and entertaining.  '''

 

looking forward to it , as Im sure many others are !

Let's not get too ahead of ourselves ...

[mgaretz]

4 hours ago, Shel_B said:

I'm just starting my investigation into how wasabi is grown here in the US and Canada.  Thus far, and in part with suggestions here, I've found five US and Canadian growers, one of which is a short drive south of me.  It's an easy day trip and the farm is located in a scenic area with some nice restaurants and other amenities.

 

I'm starting to read some articles and blog posts to get a better understanding of how wasabi is cultivated and what to look for and consider when buying and using wasabi, including, perhaps, uses and recipes beyond just as an accompaniment to raw fish.  After reading  these articles, I'd like to drive down to purchase some rhizomes, leaves, and stems, and start experimenting a bit.  At this point I don't even know if such a visit would be acceptable to the growers but that should be easy to find out.

 

https://californiagrown.org/blog/learn-how-real-wasabi-is-grown/

 

Do they allow visits?  Didn't see anything about that on their site.

[Shel_B]

4 hours ago, mgaretz said:

Do they allow visits?  Didn't see anything about that on their site.

Just above the link that you clicked on to get to the site, I wrote:

 

At this point I don't even know if such a visit would be acceptable to the growers but that should be easy to find out.

[haresfur]

I bought wasabi from a grower in Tasmania but that probably doesn't help you. They would only ship the rhysome by express post 

[Shel_B]

23 hours ago, mgaretz said:

 

Do they allow visits?  Didn't see anything about that on their site.

@mgaretz, I called them this morning and got an answering machine. I left a brief and direct message describing my interest.  Now we wait.  If I don't hear back from them by mid-week, I'll try again through their online contact form.

[liuzhou]

I have posted about wasabi in China here.

[Mjx]

An online search should give you plenty of results; this is one option: https://www.realwasabi.com/pages/fresh-wasabi

[haresfur]

21 hours ago, Shel_B said:

@mgaretz, I called them this morning and got an answering machine. I left a brief and direct message describing my interest.  Now we wait.  If I don't hear back from them by mid-week, I'll try again through their online contact form.

 

If you go, try to pick up some wasabi leaves, too. I haven't tried them but I read they are interesting greens with some of the wasabi root snap to them.

[FauxPas]

54 minutes ago, haresfur said:

 

If you go, try to pick up some wasabi leaves, too. I haven't tried them but I read they are interesting greens with some of the wasabi root snap to them.

 

Interesting that you mentioned this. Last night I happened to be watching some older episodes of MasterChef Australia and one of the contestants had to feature wasabi. Billie made a beef tartare that utilized the wasabi plant in several ways and the judges all loved  her wasabi leaf tempura! 

 

Here's the video from the episode (though unfortunately via Facebook, so some may not be able to view):

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1185637652291859

 

But here's her recipe!

https://10play.com.au/masterchef/recipes/wasabi-beef-tartare/r220531rsqwx

[liuzhou]

The whole plant is edible. Wasabi flowers make for an interesting garnish on many dishes. Or in salads.

 

Image： imgs.zsbeike.com