Wasabi powder/ fresh root

[Harpua]

My boyfriend bought a wasabi powder and the ingredients lists just horseradish and spirulina. Is this "wasabi horseradish" or just a shortcut wasabi??

Is wasabi root the same as regular horseradish, or is it just in the same family? Indeed it is picoso.

Thanks

[Mangilao30]

American horseradish and Japanese horseradish or wasabi are different plants. They are not related. Fresh wasabi is pretty rare outside Japan. Is this a Japanese dish?

[Pete]

Most wasabi powders and pastes bought in this country contain very little, if any, real wasabi. It is rarely grown outside of Japan, though there is a farm in California that is doing quite well growing it. Even in Japan, from what I understand, the real stuff is getting harder and harder to come by. Lots of the less expensive sushi bars are using the powders.

[mudbug]

Unless it says, "Made from Real Wasabi Horseradish" then it is not made from real wasabi horseradish.

Wasabi = Botanical/Scientific/Latin name of plant: Wasabia japonica
Horseradish = Botanical/Scientific/Latin name of plant: Armoracia rusticana

They are not the same plant, however (sorry Mangilao30) they are from the same plant family: Brassicaceae (cabbage family).

The cabbage family contains almost 3000 species, most of which are herbs growing in temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. Apart from spices and oil plants, several vegetables are to be named, e.g., cabbage (Brassica oleraceae).

Alliaria petiolata (Garlic mustard)
Armoracia rusticana (Horseradish)
Brassica nigra (Black mustard)
Eruca sativa (Rocket)
Lepidium sativum (Garden Cress)
Nasturtium officinale (Water cress)
Sinapis alba (White mustard)
Sisymbrium officinale (Wild rocket)
Wasabia japonica (Wasabi)
Source

The real wasabi plant is difficult to grow. Therefore making mass production inefficient and unprofitable. This is why wasabi powder is made from the more common horseradish (Armoracia rusticana).

If you want to try real wasabi, look for it in tube form. I've purchased it at grocery stores. Or you can order it here: http://www.afcsushi.com/sushirelProd/sushimak.html

If you're ambitious, you can try growing real wasabi yourself for a ready supply:
Growing real wasabi