Fresh Wasabi Rhizome
The stem or the rhizome is the most valuable part of the wasabi plant. These dutch grown wasabi rhizomes toke 18-24 months to grow full-size. They are harvested to order to ensure their freshness. Sizes vary between 30 and 100 grams. We recommend 50 grams wasabi for 4 persons with your sushi.
Processing
The wasabi paste is created by grating the wasabi rhizome. This paste gives a sharp kick with a sweet aftertaste. This taste arises because the cells are grated and react with the air.
A standard kitchen grater is not suitable for grating wasabi. Use a good wasabi grater to get a nice wasabi paste with the right taste.
After grating, the wasabi can be used fresh for about 15 minutes. Of course you can also use the wasabi in a recipe. The pungency remains best recognizable in greasy recipes. However, wasabi gives it its own "wasabi" flavor in addition to a sharp taste.
Storing
The wasabi comes in a plastic bag. Store this in the refrigerator. We recommend using the wasabi within a week. After a week the wasabi will turn slightly browner. It may help to cut off the head. The inside is still perfectly usable. We recommend not storing the wasabi for longer than 2 weeks.
