Wasabi

[fourstardan]

I sometimes go for a cheapy sushi option in the supermarkets, LIDL isn't that bad actually, but one thing that is irritating is the amount of wasabi you get.

Whats the best wasabi available and where? Amazon has a lot but not sure what one has that up the nose kick.

[jimmyjimjim]

My understanding is that the wasabi you get in stores and prepackaged sushi is dyed horseradish.

[21TonyK]

You could try these guys...

https://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk

Even do fresh if you feel up to it!

https://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk/fresh-wasabi

[dapprman]

jimmyjimjim said:

My understanding is that the wasabi you get in stores and prepackaged sushi is dyed horseradish.

Also includes the imported Japanese stuff - not uncommon over there either due to the cost and difficulty in growing it. I know there is a company over here which will let you grow your own and I think it is meant to be easier to do in this country. BTW you need to use grated wasabi within a few minutes else it starts to oxidise affecting the flavour.

[daqinggregg]

Hong Kong, mid 90’s, I had a colleague, not a very pleasant person. One lunch time she suggested trying Japanese food, unusually for her, confessing she’d never tried it;

“What’s the green stuff?”
“Puréed mint, takes the heat off the Sushi.”
“You fornicating child of an unmarried mother.”

[fourstardan]

So maybe I'm after green horseradish in bulk then

Can you buy what you get in the sachets but in a bottle?

[number2]

This is good: https://www.ocado.com/products/yutaka-premium-hon-...

Or https://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk/individual-fres...

I've not used the actual rhyzome but have it on my list for when I have a go at sushi/sashimi at home.

Oops, hadn't noticed that Tony already posted the Wasabi company!

[loafer123]

daqinggregg said:

Hong Kong, mid 90’s, I had a colleague, not a very pleasant person. One lunch time she suggested trying Japanese food, unusually for her, confessing she’d never tried it;

“What’s the green stuff?”
“Puréed mint, takes the heat off the Sushi.”
“You fornicating child of an unmarried mother.”

Rita Rudner used to do a similar comedy sketch.

She said she hadn’t had it before, saw Wasabi, and thought it was guacamole, and that she loves guacamole, so took a huge spoon.

It was the only time she said she “saw the inside of her own nostrils”.

[s2kjock]

fourstardan said:

So maybe I'm after green horseradish in bulk then

Can you buy what you get in the sachets but in a bottle?

You can buy it in a tube in supermarkets, or at least you can in Waitrose - located beside or on the sushi counter normally. Better quality than the free sachet stuff.

[daqinggregg]

This my Wasabi, probably like others said coloured Horseradish.

[daqinggregg]

Trust me, you don't need to buy it in bulk, one tube will last a while. Works better than Lemsip!

[fourstardan]

s2kjock said:

You can buy it in a tube in supermarkets, or at least you can in Waitrose - located beside or on the sushi counter normally. Better quality than the free sachet stuff.

I thought Waitrose might be my option....thanks

[gotoPzero]

https://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk/fresh-wasabi/in...

You will need deep pockets!

[beambeam1]

dapprman said:

jimmyjimjim said:

My understanding is that the wasabi you get in stores and prepackaged sushi is dyed horseradish.

Also includes the imported Japanese stuff - not uncommon over there either due to the cost and difficulty in growing it. I know there is a company over here which will let you grow your own and I think it is meant to be easier to do in this country. BTW you need to use grated wasabi within a few minutes else it starts to oxidise affecting the flavour.

Yeah, it has a very short half-life.

[djc206]

gotoPzero said:

https://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk/fresh-wasabi/in...

You will need deep pockets!

If you’re going to splash out you need to get the shark skin grater for the full authentic experience!

I’ve got a jar of their wasabi mayo in the fridge, it’s bloody good stuff.

[Glassman]

21TonyK said:

You could try these guys...

https://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk

Even do fresh if you feel up to it!

https://www.thewasabicompany.co.uk/fresh-wasabi

Wasabi vodka

[bigmowley]

Slightly off topic but you can get wasabi KitKats in Japan. Bit bizarre.

[djc206]

bigmowley said:

Slightly off topic but you can get wasabi KitKats in Japan. Bit bizarre.

Lidl did a wasabi ice cream for a while, not sure if they still do it. Bloody weird, hot and cold simultaneously

[Mobile Chicane]

The first time I ever tried sushi, I was thinking 'that green blob' is some sort of avocado, right?

Chugged the whole thing.

Oooh nooo.

[dapprman]

bigmowley said:

Slightly off topic but you can get wasabi KitKats in Japan. Bit bizarre.

From memory a mild creamy taste, resisted buying more when I treated myself to a big order from Japan Haul (big discount to promote their app) and included four different packs of Kitkat.

Side side note - not been able to get Nagatanien Wasabi Ochazukenori in this country for a couple of years before lock down, so had to get a friend's wife to bring these back for me when she visited her family in Tokyo.

(you put 100g of cooked rice in a bowl, sprinkle with a pack of the seasoning, then pour over 150ml of boiling water - nice snack).