1. Spices By: Autumn Madea Level: 2 PM

2. Wasabi

3. What Is It? Wasabi is a spice traditionally prepared from a plant in the cabbage family. Its root is used as a spice and has a very strong flavor. The root is smashed up into paste and used as a condiment. Its hotness is more like hot mustard or horseradish than chili pepper, because it irritates the nose more than the tongue. Eating too much wasabi can cause a very painful feeling in the nose.

4. Where Is It From? The plant grows naturally in Japan. It needs clean water and a cool climate. It is very difficult to grow wasabi. There are two ways to grow this plant. One way is to grow wasabi in water. The other way is to grow wasabi in field.

5. Where Can I Get It? Major sources of wasabi are Shizuoka, Nagano, Shimane, Yamanashi, and Iwate prefectures in Japan. Other source of wasabi include China, New Zealand, Taiwan.

6. Am I Eating Real Wasabi? You are probably not eating real wasabi, because the wasabi plant is so hard to grow. Real wasabi is very rare and expensive. Most wasabi is a green paste that is really made from horseradish, mustard and food coloring. Real wasabi is white, not green.