Where Does Wasabi Come From?

Most of us thought of wasabi as an eye-watering, vibrant green condiment that sits with the pink pickled ginger come sushi time. But how many of us know where the wasabi comes from?

We take a closer examination at the origins of the unusual Japanese ingredients. When we talk about real wasabi, we are probably not talking about the green condiment found in your local Japanese restaurants. The BBC estimates that only 5% of the wasabi served in Japanese restaurants worldwide comes from rhizome, or root of the wasabi plant.

There are countless reasons for that, including the difficulty in growing the wasabi plant, its volatility as elements and above all, the hefty price tag that comes with it.

Real wasabi is the pungent stem of the Wasabia Japonica plant that grow in ancient times in Japan in misty rocky Japanese riverbeds, and where it yet grows today, primarily in the Japanese Shizuoka prefecture also the Azumino plains of the Nagano prefecture.

The plant is not commonly cultivated, given its picky growing necessary and the lengthy growing period to reach maturity. However, ambitious farmers pursuing a slice of the lucrative wasabi trade have adopted its commercial growth in many parts of the world, such as Taiwan, Australia, North America, China, New Zealand, and even the UK.

History of Wasabi

Wasabi naturally grows in the cold, plain flowing streams of deep mountain areas across japan; historically, it has been part of our regular lives and has also been used for medicinal purposes as far back as the Nara period. In Mie prefecture, around the year 786, the Japanese Buddhist monk Kohbou-Daishi transplanted wild-growing wasabi in Mount Koya to the area nearby the Chuzen-Ji temple.

Yamaguchi prefecture and the wild growing of wasabi

In Yamaguchi prefecture also, it is said that the fleeing Heike warriors defeated at the battle of Dannoura 1185 assembled wild-growing wasabi from the kidani-Kyo Gorge, used the roots to garnish sashimi of yamama and deer, and pickled and ate the leaves and stems of the plant.

Coltivation of Wasabi Today

Today science and technology have made it achievable to grow real wasabi more efficiently than ever before, opening up access to the benefits of the plant for people all over the globe. But that was not always the situation. Wasabi used to be so uncommon that it was accepted as a form of currency for paying taxes in feudal Japan.

The sell Of Wasabi in Acient Time

At one time in history, its sale was even restricted so that only japan’s uppermost class members could purchase it. If you ever require a positive side to your day, just remember how lucky you are to live in a time where you do not have to be linked to the shogun to have wasabi.

The wasabi capsule makes it possible for you to examine the health benefits of being famous in Japan for generations. It’s a scientific approach to traditional folk medicine, and it’s the easiest way to get your hands on true, natural wasabi.