The so-called "Wasabi" found in sushi restaurants is generally made of horseradish and green colored food dye. Wasabia japonica, the "True Wasabi" is rarely found outside Japan. Don't wait any longer to taste it! Grow the true Wasabi plant in your garden! Wasabia japonica 'Daruma' is a relatively new cultivar. Unlike the mazuma variety, which is best eaten immediately upon grating its rhizome, Daruma requires a few minutes for its sweet and hot flavour to reveal itself. Although its flavour is similar to horseradish (Armorcia risticanada), it has a subtle difference in that it quickly dissipates in the mouth, leaving a lingering sweet taste with no burning sensation. As semi-aquatic plants, Wasabi grow naturally along cool streams in the mountains of Japan. It requires the perfect mix of part/full shade and wet/moist soil to thrive. Daruma Wasabi plant leaves are very sensitive to the excess of hot temperatures and low humidity.
