Le gasp! As it turns out, we've been eating fake wasabi for our whole lives. Because Business Insider did a deep dive into what wasabi really is, and it's pretty fascinating.
So now we know: real wasabi is rare and painfully expensive, and that green paste we've been eating is a pale imitation. Many people who have discovered this felt a number of things: surprised, betrayed, interested and hungry. See what you think of this revelation, too! It has pretty much been the best-kept secret that isn't a secret.
But now the secret is out, and people can't believe what they've been missing. Don't fret, we've got you covered. Here's what the REAL wasabi actually is!
Fans of sushi think they know what wasabi is.
It's that green stuff you get with every sushi dish! Right?But that's only partially true.
And yet, you may never have actually tasted it.
Wasabi is rare and very expensive, so most restaurants here don't have the funds or time to serve customers authentic wasabi.Many establishments serve a wasabi substitute.
Is that feeling of betrayal creeping up on you yet?
Both horseradish and mustard are related to wasabi, and their spiciness comes from similar chemicals. It's enough alike to fool most American customers.There is a definite difference, though.
Substitute-wasabi is sharper in taste, but true wasabi is smooth and comes with a natural sweetness alongside the spicy.So why don't we get real wasabi?!
Well, there is an answer to this. Wasabi is a small green plant in the brassica family, which also includes cabbage, mustard, horseradish, and broccoli.But it's got a few other differences from the rest of the family.
A kilogram of fresh wasabi comes at a steep price; it can be 25 times more expensive than the same amount of fresh horseradish. A pound of wasabi can total $100.What goes into that crazy price?
It mostly comes down to the work that goes into growing it. Wasabi is recognized as the most difficult plant to grow commercially anywhere in the world.Wasabi requires some very specific conditions to thrive.
You can only find it naturally occurring next to mountain streams in Japan. Wasabi needs shade, a constant source of running water, and rocky soil. Plus, it's very temperature-sensitive; it only tolerates temperatures between 8 and 20 degrees Celsius. (That's roughly 46 - 68 degrees Fahrenheit.)If anything upsets the balance, problems ensure.
Wasabi plants are picky, and if the humidity gets too intense or use of the wrong minerals, the plants will suffer.Isn't that enough?
Well, yes, but there's more. Wasabi plants are also especially at risk of disease and pests.It's still mostly grown in Japan.
Wasabi needs a long time to grow.
Even if all of the wasabi plant's standards of living are met, it still takes about 18 months to grow and harvest.From there, the work gets even harder.
This isn't the normal type of farming, where large machines can be used to harvest multiple plants at the same time. Everything has to be done by hand when it comes to wasabi!Here's a brief overview of the process.
Time to make wasabi!
Keep in mind, the pasting is done at restaurants.
So if you don't see your wasabi ground up right in front of you at a restaurant, there's a pretty good chance you're not eating authentic wasabi.What's up with that?
When wasabi is grated, it actually releases a number of spicy vapors. Wasabi then loses that scent within minutes of grating so it's crucial to grate the wasabi immediately prior to serving it.Here's the actual timetable:
5 minutes after grating, the wasabi is at its peak flavor. But 30 minutes after, it's almost entirely gone. And this only happens with a grating; if you chop the wasabi, you're not going to get that spicy flavor.So, authentic wasabi still isn't going to become a standard thing.
That didn't stop the reactions from rolling in, though.
Upon hearing that they had been eating faux-wasabi for their whole lives, people were definitely shook.Like, "I have been betrayed" levels of shook.
@businessinsider I've been eating a lie.— Rob Swystun (@Rob Swystun)1548253254.0
Comparisons were drawn.
Don't try and stick me with that white chocolate! I want real chocolate!We have been bamboozled.
@petrock's account is temporarily unavailable because it violates the Twitter Media Policy. Learn more.— (@)1548580280.0
Still, some people had to be realistic about this.
Well that was very interesting, and if my budget is any indication I will probably NEVER sample real Wasabi. https://t.co/IIp4AT9cVU— Travis Hartfiel (@Travis Hartfiel)1548340442.0
Just toss it on the bucket list.
Added to bucketlist: eat a freshly grated wasabi https://t.co/Epi77CUMHF— dying Akram, not Dai (@dying Akram, not Dai)1548308270.0
Other people just took it out on the horseradish.
@businessinsider Hoodwinked by horseradish. Gah! https://t.co/yRdQ6WV93D— Susie Lindau (@Susie Lindau)1548701733.0
And some people apparently were already experts.
@businessinsider Did people not already know this? I thought this was common knowledge.— K (@K)1548708333.0
Check out the full Business Insider video!
This is why wasabi is so expensive https://t.co/qcE9wCNVsM— Business Insider (@Business Insider)1548248640.0