Wasabi (山葵)
Wasabia japonica - the famous Japanese condiment that goes with Sushi, Sashimi and maybe certain types of Ramen.
It turns out, the Japanese colonial masters grew this herb in Alishan and left a legacy.
It is actually a member of the Cabbage family though it does share the same type of pungency with the traditional Horseradish (which is not greenish in colour). The real thing is actually the rhizome of the plant, of which, it is usually grated and then served. I have tasted grated wasabi. It is not that pungent and has this lovely sweetness to it. That green thing that is popularly squeezed out of a tube that everyone buys from the supermarket, may actually contain no wasabi whatsoever, but is actually a concoction of fillers, colours and the same chemicals that deliver the pungency in the rhizomes - the isothiocyanates.
Unfortunately, folks who are not familiar with wasabi, or who are greedy (as a few Mainlander tourists would found out), throwing a handful of nuts spiced with wasabi into the mouth in one go despite signs warning you not to, would make one tear up and howl in misery. One gentlemen was trying to extract his guts out over the drain thereafter.
Wasabi (山葵)
Wasabia japonica - the famous Japanese condiment that goes with Sushi, Sashimi and maybe certain types of Ramen.
It turns out, the Japanese colonial masters grew this herb in Alishan and left a legacy.
It is actually a member of the Cabbage family though it does share the same type of pungency with the traditional Horseradish (which is not greenish in colour). The real thing is actually the rhizome of the plant, of which, it is usually grated and then served. I have tasted grated wasabi. It is not that pungent and has this lovely sweetness to it. That green thing that is popularly squeezed out of a tube that everyone buys from the supermarket, may actually contain no wasabi whatsoever, but is actually a concoction of fillers, colours and the same chemicals that deliver the pungency in the rhizomes - the isothiocyanates.
Unfortunately, folks who are not familiar with wasabi, or who are greedy (as a few Mainlander tourists would found out), throwing a handful of nuts spiced with wasabi into the mouth in one go despite signs warning you not to, would make one tear up and howl in misery. One gentlemen was trying to extract his guts out over the drain thereafter.