History and Origin of Wasabi (Japanese Horseradish)

Wasabi is native to Japan, and was according to a Japanese legend discovered several hundred years ago. It is also said that before its discovery, the spice used to grow wild in the valleys of the Japanese mountains. The survivors of the defeated Heike clan (in the battle of Dannoura, year 1185) who settled in the mountains used to collect wild wasabi for culinary and medicinal purposes. After its discovery wasabi started to spread to other parts of Asia such as China and Taiwan, and furthermore to remaining parts of the world.

Even though the Western world most commonly recognizes wasabi as the green, spicy paste one gets together with sushi, the Japanese preferably grate fresh wasabi root to kill off various bacteria and odors of raw fish dishes.