Real wasabi
Wasabi isn’t exactly what you typically get in sushi bars. Although it may look like wasabi and give you the same burning sensation that you get with wasabi, it’s actually made mostly of horseradish. This isn’t necessarily so bad and if you haven’t ever had real wasabi, you’d probably be none the wiser. Both of them are from the same plant family so there are some similarities.
True wasabi is fairly rare and expensive. It is also quite perishable. Since it loses its flavor quickly even when real wasabi is packaged and sent off, it’s going to lose some of its potency on the way. Even with that, there are places online where you can get is known as “true wasabi” powder that you can make into your own paste at home when you’re ready to enjoy it.
This true wasabi isn’t going to be as good as if it was fresh grated, but then again what is? It’s still the best way to get that true wasabi flavor that you’re looking for. Since the use of fake wasabi is so wide spread, it’s not really a surprise that most of us never know that we’re not being given the real thing and most of us in fact have never even had true wasabi. You might be able to turn this around the next time you’re at your favorite sushi bar though.
The next time you go have sushi, ask your waiter or waitress if they have real wasabi. If they do, they’ll usually be happy to bring you some out. Some places when you ask will actually bring out wasabi powder and make the paste right there at your table so that you know everything that goes into it. Most of the wasabi paste on the market today has all kinds of preservatives and extra ingredients in it to keep it fresh and pretty.
Once you make a past from the true wasabi powder, you want to keep it from being exposed to the air as this is what will cause it to quickly lose its potency. In some Japanese restaurants they’ll mix it up in a tea cup and as soon as it’s done, they’ll flip the cup over until it’s ready to use to preserve the flavor.
Just bear in mind that while fake wasabi isn’t necessarily a horrible tasting condiment or anything, most of what you get out there isn’t true wasabi and those who have had real wasabi just won’t really accept anything less than the real deal.