British Wasabi
Dorset wasabi, grown on our own farms
We are the UK’s only commercial growers of fresh wasabi. Our plants grow slowly in cool, mineral-rich water on our Dorset and Hampshire farms, in beds managed to resemble traditional wasabi farms in Japan, and each one takes more than 18 months to produce a rhizome ready for harvest. That patience comes through in the flavour, which is bright, clean and naturally sweet.
The rhizome is the part you grate. It’s often called a root, but it’s a swollen stem that builds height as the leaves grow from the crown of the plant. Much of the “wasabi” served in restaurants and sold in shops outside Japan is horseradish coloured green. Real wasabi has a more complex heat that fades quickly, along with a natural sweetness, whilst horseradish has a sharper bite that lingers.
When our own crop can’t keep up with demand, our Japanese wasabi, imported from Shizuoka prefecture, keeps real wasabi on the menu. If you’d like to grow your own, you can also buy a wasabi plant to raise at home.
How to prepare fresh British wasabi
Preparing fresh wasabi is part of the pleasure. Rinse the rhizome under cold running water and trim away the stems to reveal the greenest, sweetest part, then grate it in small circles on a fine wasabi grater. As the pale green paste builds, a fresh, grassy aroma rises from the grater. Use a brush to move the paste onto a wooden or ceramic surface, gather it into a ball and leave it for up to five minutes so the flavour can develop.
Grate only what you need, as fresh wasabi is at its most vibrant for around 15 to 20 minutes and you can always grate more. Spoon it alongside sashimi and sushi, stir it through noodles, or add a little to steak, fish and canapés just before serving, where its clean heat lifts rich flavours without overpowering them. Keep it away from direct high heat, which dulls both the flavour and the pungency.
New to fresh wasabi? The Fresh Wasabi Starter Kit includes a rhizome, a metal grater and a bamboo brush, so it’s an easy way to start and a thoughtful present for a food lover.
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