What is Wasabi?
{{Taxobox | name = Wasabi | image = Wasabia japonica 1.JPG | image_width = 220px | image_caption = | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Brassicales]] | familia = [[Brassicaceae]] | genus = '''''Wasabia''''' | species = '''''W. japonica''''' | binomial = ''Wasabia japonica'' | binomial_authority = [[Jinzô Matsumura|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 a field. Major sources of wasabi are [[Shizuoka Prefecture|Shizuoka]], [[Nagano Prefecture|Nagano]], [[Shimane Prefecture|Shimane]], [[Yamanashi Prefecture|Yamanashi]], and [[Iwate Prefecture|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. <ref>{{Cite news|date=2014-09-17|title=Wasabi: Why invest in 'the hardest plant to grow'?|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-29082091|access-date=2020-11-07}}</ref> Wasabi is also known for how spicy, or hot it is. <gallery> File:山葵田 Wasabi Fields - panoramio.jpg|Wasabi plants (Azumino, [[Nagano Prefecture|Nagano]], [[Japan]]) File:Wasabi 002.jpg|Wasabi paste on a plate </gallery> {{commonscat}} == References == {{Reflist}}{{H