Japanese horseradish grows near Radom - real wasabi in Poland costs up to PLN 1,500 per kilogram

Japanese horseradish grows near Radom

Wasabi, also called Japanese horseradish, is one of the most characteristic spices in Asian cuisine. The plant naturally occurs in Japan, where it has been used in cooking for centuries to prepare a characteristic green paste from the rhizome, most often served with sushi. Its taste is very intense and spicy, significantly different from the taste of chili peppers. Its sharpness does not burn the tongue, but quickly reaches the nose and sinuses.

Growing wasabi is extremely difficult. The plant needs appropriate conditions for growth, clean water, stable temperature and proper humidity, which is why breeding is much more demanding than growing many other popular vegetables and spices. A unique plantation of real Japanese wasabi is located in Poland, in Jedlnia-Letnisko near Radom. It is the only plantation of its kind in continental Europe.

A kilogram of wasabi can cost up to PLN 1,500

The price of real wasabi may surprise you. You can pay up to PLN 1,200-1,500 per kilogram of this plant. Such a high price is due to, among others, with difficult growing conditions and a long time needed to obtain a valuable rhizome. The Daruma variety is grown in Poland.

Wasabi is a plant that can be used almost entirely. The rhizome has the most intense and spicy taste, but the leaves and their stems with a characteristic and spicy taste are also edible. This means that real wasabi can be used not only as an addition to sushi, but also in other dishes.

Green paste from the store is often not real wasabi

Although the term "wasabi" is widely known, the product available in stores or served in many restaurants often has little in common with real Japanese horseradish. Agnieszka Firlej from the family farm Wasabi Farm Poland talked about the differences between real wasabi and popular pastes and powders.

Generally, all pastes and powders available in stores have little in common with real wasabi. Starting from taste, consistency and ending with color, which in the case of freshly grated pastes will be dark green, light green or yellow - she told Money.pl.

As Firlej emphasized, the difference concerns not only the taste, consistency and appearance of the product, but also the medicinal properties that only fresh wasabi has. In practice, this means that the characteristic green paste served with sushi is not always a product prepared from fresh wasabi rhizome. It is often a mixture of other ingredients intended to mimic the taste and appearance of the original spice.

What does wasabi contain?