Benjamin

The wasabi (山葵) is an original plant of the family of the Brassicacées, originating in the Japan, used like Condiment in the Japanese Cuisine. The term indicates also the condiment prepared with the root of the plant.

Scientific name: Wasabia japonica (Miq.) Matsum., family of the Brassicacée S (Crucifère S), subfamily of the Brassicoideae .

Common nouns: wasabi, Japanese horseradish. (“wasabi” means “pink trémière of the Japanese mountains”).

Hardy perennial of which one uses the root, it is a kind of Raifort Japanese (kind of mustard), green, with the extremely strong taste, less extremely however than that of Western horseradish. It belongs besides to the same botanical family as horseradish and mustard. The wasabi pushes spontaneously only in Japan and in the island of Sakhaline.

The wasabi is used mainly mixed with sauce of Soja to soak there the Sushi and the Sashimi (flat believed fish Japanese). In a general way, it decorates the dishes of Poisson or Viande. One finds it in the rays of the Eastern grocers, where it can be sold out of tube, already prepared, or more classically of root, in the form of powder which it is necessary to mix with water to obtain a pâte.

Savor

The root of horseradish is rich in isothiocyanates and sinigrine. During the preparation, crushing creates an enzymatic reaction bringing typical savor. This savor is brought by the isothiocyanate of 6-méthylhexyle, the isothiocyanate of 7-méthylheptyle and the isothiocyanate of 8-méthylthiooctyle.

Anti-cariogene effect

The wasabi, and in particular one of its compounds the Isothiocyanates, would have anti-cariogene properties by preventing the bacteria from fixing itself on enamel.

Popular culture

  • Wasabi is the title of a film carried out by Gerard Krawczyk in 2001.
  • the wasabi inspired a song, " Wasabi Kiss" (" 山葵 KIS! "), by the project belgo-japono-Vietnamese Awaken.
  • " Hot like Wasabi" is used in the song " One Week" of Barenaked Ladies.
  • the individual first CD of Lee Harding is called " Wasabi/Eye off the Tiger " , number 1 in Australia in 2005.
  • the wasabi makes vomit a character of Jackass: The Movie , Steve-O.
  • the group Cibo Matto also has a song inspired by the wasabi, " Sci-Fi Wasabi ."
  • Wasabi, it is the name of a free magazine on the Japanese gastronomy ()

See too

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