Wasabi plants?

Wright

Anyone ever seen wasabi plants for sale? Potted, a few of them in a tray would be great. I'm in Dublin if that helps.

rje66

From what I gather they are very difficult to grow, thus the high price of 'real wasabi' in Japan. What we get as wwasabi is dyed horseradish.

Wright

But, only wasabi hits you in the nose; horseradish doesn't do this?

magicbastarder

wasabi is extremely hard to grow, and only grows in running water. you will not find it for sale in ireland; there's no market for it, and the japanese have been extremely defensive of their near monopoly for many years.

the chances of anything marked (in ireland) as being wasabi *actually* being wasabi are slim.

Wright

That's interesting, how they grow. Never did see them potted while I lived over in Japan, that explains it.

Any wasabi I've had here is definitely wasabi though.

magicbastarder

almost certainly not. the vast majority of what is sold as wasabi in ireland is a mixture of horseradish, mustard and dye.

The first thing to know about wasabi - or Wasabia japonica, as it's officially known - is that you have probably never tried the real thing.

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-29082091

Hocus Focus

Hi, I registered at least a couple of months ago, read all the terms &conditions etc and I'm pretty certain I have already commented on posts, I don't know why I am getting this message now.

Speedwell

magicbastarder wrote: »

almost certainly not. the vast majority of what is sold as wasabi in ireland is a mixture of horseradish, mustard and dye.[/url]

This is absolutely true; in a pinch I've mixed up a batch myself.

magicbastarder

Hocus Focus wrote: »

Hi, I registered at least a couple of months ago, read all the terms &conditions etc and I'm pretty certain I have already commented on posts, I don't know why I am getting this message now.

that you thought the wasabi you were eating was the real deal?

Wright

magicbastarder wrote: »

that you thought the wasabi you were eating was the real deal?

There's plenty of wasabi kicking around Dublin and elsewhere. If it hits you in the nose its wasabi not horseradish.

Yi Harr

http://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk/buy/plants/young-wasabi-plant

Delivery within the EU/Ireland is quite expensive though.

Wright

Yi Harr wrote: »

http://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk/buy/plants/young-wasabi-plant

Delivery within the EU/Ireland is quite expensive though.

Awesome! Muchos gracias!

lk67

Wright wrote: »

There's plenty of wasabi kicking around Dublin and elsewhere. If it hits you in the nose its wasabi not horseradish.

.... but mustard has the same effect, that's why it's in almost all of the 'wasabi' product available outside of Japan. Mind you, some have a teeny tiny bit of actual wasabi in them so that they can call them a wasabi product.

magicbastarder

exactly. go eat a teaspoon of english mustard and you'll get it in the nose.

Wright

lk67 wrote: »

.... but mustard has the same effect, that's why it's in almost all of the 'wasabi' product available outside of Japan. Mind you, some have a teeny tiny bit of actual wasabi in them so that they can call them a wasabi product.

Huh. Mustard has never hit me in the nose in my life. Weird.

lk67

Wright wrote: »

Huh. Mustard has never hit me in the nose in my life. Weird.

I think you've been trying the wrong mustards!



It's even an old cure for sinus problems and colds.

Hocus Focus

magicbastarder wrote: »

that you thought the wasabi you were eating was the real deal?

No. When I clicked on this thread there was a message at the top saying that as a newbie I had to read the rules and if I was from the media I had to go to a different forum etc.

kylith

lk67 wrote: »

.... but mustard has the same effect, that's why it's in almost all of the 'wasabi' product available outside of Japan. Mind you, some have a teeny tiny bit of actual wasabi in them so that they can call them a wasabi product.

Yep, most of the stuff outside Japan is a mix of horseradish, mustard, and dye.