Fresh wasabi vs wasabi paste?

Question

Is freshly grated wasabi just as "spicy" as ready made wasabi paste (or wasabi powder)? I would think that fresh wasabi has a more subtle flavor than the concentrated paste. Has anyone tried both and what do you think?

Thanks!

Answer 1

The taste & feeling is distinctly different. The common wasabi paste immediately socks it to your nasal passage and there's really no taste to talk about; it's just common horseradish bulked with mustard & that radioactive green food coloring. It's a kind of rawness that makes your sinuses feel brutally violated!

Fresh wasabi, grated direct from the root, is really sublime. Certainly it's also pungent but the taste is smooth & gradually spreads gently through your mouth, here your tastebuds feel seduced! Really memorable when paired with the best quality shoyu. Restaurants in Japan will provide customers with the fresh root & a grater to DIY to their liking.

It's expensive because of the difficulty in cultivation as it needs a constant source of flowing water that's very pure. Hence most of it is still gathered in the wild from streams in mountainous regions eg Nagano. Which is one of the perks of living up in the mountains, you get first pick at a luxury that city folk can only dream about.

Although it's not quite an apple to apple comparison, fresh wasabi would not be considered as 'potent' as the fake stuff.

Answer 2

Not sure but it's d**n hot!

Answer 3

Miesplz is unfortunately incorrect, and you are correct. Fresh wasabi root is NOT as potent as manufactured wasabi which is basically just dried horseradish and coloring.  Fresh wasabi is extremely hard to find and highly perishable and is therefore extremely expensive. You can buy freshly ground wasabi root in a tube in some Japanese or Asian markets. But it will not give you "holy c**p my sinuses are on fire" feeling.

Answer 4

... either or... the key is to drown wasabi with real good soy!!!

Answer 5

The fresh wasabi is more potent and the root it is made from is very expensive.  The wasabi powder is not really "concentrated."

Answer 6

As with all produce, it's hit and miss. One can never really tell whether the piece you got will be be hot or mild. Also, a small piece is very expensive, so you wouldn't want to be taking chances.

I would suggest that you buy "oroshi" (grated) wasabi. It's affordable, comes in tubes or packages, and you can use it as needed. It will consistently tastes the same.

Answer 7

Yes! and your statement is true, fresh is best. Pastes and powders are "created" for the consumer that won't be using it on a regular basis hence the need to add necessary ingredients and chemicals to prolong shelf life.

http://homepage3.nifty.com/maryy/eng/was...

Answer 8

In my opinion the choice is for your tastebuds to decide.

If you enjoy a really hot wasabi buy a Japanese brand powdered wasabi, Mix it with a tiny amount of hot water to a mallealbe consistency and shape wasabi into a tiny mountain shape.  

Put it on a saucer and cover it with a glass and the next day the wasabi will be highly potent with a flavour that suits my tastebuds too.  The tube wasabi is easy but not so flavoursome or hot imo.