Wasabi is conquering the supermarket shelves

Some like it spicy

Friends of sushi and other delicacies from Japanese cuisine have long known the pale green, pasty mass. And they appreciate their spicy, aromatic pungency, even if it brings a tingling sensation to your nose and maybe even tears to your eyes. We are talking about wasabi. For some time now, the snack product industry has also discovered the green spiciness for itself: whether in the crispy coating of nuts, dried peas or, more recently, on potato chips. Wasabi has long since put the long-serving hot peppers in the shade. But who or what is wasabi? And is there wasabi in everything that says wasabi?

Wasabi is the vertically growing leafy rhizome of a plant in the cruciferous family. Its also common name as "Japanese horseradish" is deceptive, because unlike wasabi, horseradish is a root that grows underground. What they have in common is the reason for their pungent taste. Volatile mustard oils, the so-called isothiocyanates, are responsible for this.

In its home country of Japan, wasabi is also eaten freshly grated. In this country it is usually only available as a powder or paste. The plant is demanding: it only thrives in shallow water, does not like it too warm or cold, and does not get direct sunlight at all. This makes cultivation difficult and increases the price. When shopping, you should always be skeptical: real wasabi has its price. If the product is too cheap, it's probably a fake - cleverly mixed with horseradish, mustard and artificial colors. A look at the list of ingredients clarifies. Speaking of the list of ingredients: It is also worth taking a closer look at the wasabi snack items. Because sometimes the products do not contain real wasabi, but only flavors - even in cases where the term "wasabi" is part of the sales description, such as "wasabi peas". Incidentally, according to a recent judgment by the Munich Regional Court, this is a clear case of consumer deception. According to the Munich judges, the note "wasabi aroma" in the list of ingredients could not prevent the consumer from being deceived.

Source: Bonn [ aid - Dr. Christina Rempe]