Wasabi facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Wasabi
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Magnoliophyta
Class: Magnoliopsida
Order: Brassicales
Family: Brassicaceae
Genus: Wasabia
Species: W. japonica
Binomial name
Wasabia japonica
Matsum.

Wasabi is a spice traditionally prepared from a plant from the cabbage family. Its root is used as a spice and has a very strong flavor. The root is smashed up into paste and used as a condiment. Its hotness is more like hot mustard or horseradish than chili pepper, because it irritates the nose more than the tongue. Eating too much wasabi can cause a very painful feeling in the nose. The plant grows naturally in Japan. It is often eaten with sushi.

Wasabi needs clean water and a cool climate. It is difficult to grow wasabi. There are two ways to grow wasabi. One way is to grow wasabi in water. The other way is to grow wasabi in field.

Major sources of wasabi are Shizuoka, Nagano, Shimane, Yamanashi, and Iwate prefectures in Japan. Other source of wasabi include China, New Zealand, Taiwan.

Because the wasabi plant is so hard to grow, real wasabi is very rare and expensive. Most wasabi is a green paste that is really made from horseradish, mustard and food coloring. Real wasabi is white, not green.

  • Wasabi crop 2006-07-29

    Wasabi plants

  • Wasabi on green shiso leaves by june29

    Wasabi paste on green leaves

Herbs and spices
Herbs

Angelica • Basil • Basil, holy • Basil, Thai • Bay leaf • Boldo • Bolivian coriander • Borage • Chervil • Chives • Cicely • Coriander leaf (cilantro) • Cress • Curry leaf • Dill • Elsholtzia ciliata • Epazote • Eryngium foetidum (long coriander) • Hemp • Hoja santa • Houttuynia cordata (giấp cá) • Hyssop • Lavender • Lemon balm • Lemon grass • Lemon verbena • Limnophila aromatica (rice paddy herb) • Lovage • Marjoram • Mint • Mitsuba • Oregano • Parsley • Perilla (shiso) • Rosemary • Rue • Sage • Savory • Sorrel • Tarragon • Thyme • Vietnamese coriander (rau răm) • Woodruff
Spices

Ajwain (bishop's weed) • Aleppo pepper • Allspice • Amchur (mango powder) • Anise • Aromatic ginger • Asafoetida • Camphor • Caraway • Cardamom • Cardamom, black • Cassia • Cayenne pepper • Celery seed • Chenpi • Chili • Cinnamon • Clove • Coriander seed • Cubeb • Cumin • Cumin, black • Dill & dill seed • Fennel • Fenugreek • Fingerroot (krachai) • Galangal, greater • Galangal, lesser • Garlic • Ginger • Golpar • Grains of Paradise • Grains of Selim • Horseradish • Juniper berry • Liquorice • Mace • Mahlab • Malabathrum (tejpat) • Mastic • Mustard, black • Mustard, brown • Mustard, white • Nigella (kalonji) • Nutmeg • Paprika • Peppercorn (black, green & white) • Pepper, long • Pepper, Brazilian • Pepper, Peruvian • Pomegranate seed (anardana) • Poppy seed • Saffron • Sarsaparilla • Sassafras • Sesame • Sichuan pepper • Star anise • Sumac • Tasmanian pepper • Tamarind • Tonka bean • Turmeric • Vanilla • Wasabi • Zedoary • Zest

Images for kids

  • Wasabi by No Grand Design

    Wasabi in paste form

  • Wasabi, Iwasaki Kanen 1828

    A drawing of a wasabi plant, published in 1828 by Iwasaki Kanen.

  • WasabiOnOroshigane

    Wasabi on a metal oroshigane grater

  • 2016-07-03 Daio Wasabi Farm 大王わさび農園 DSCF0373

    Fresh wasabi stems for sale at Daio Wasabi Farm

  • Izu city, Ikadaba, Wasabi fields 20111002 C

    Wasabi crop growing on Japan's Izu peninsula

  • Compare Hikimi Wasabi Color And Taste

    Wasabi in paste form, usually served in sushi restaurants.


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Wasabi Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.