How is Wasabi Powder Made?

Have you ever eaten bright green wasabi powder and wondered how it’s made? There’s a lot more to this seasoning than meets the eye.

In this post, we’ll be exploring how wasabi powder is made, its nutritional information, and whether or not it’s even real wasabi. Read on to discover the answers to most questions you could have about wasabi powder.

Quick Answer: How is Wasabi Powder Made?

We should begin by mentioning that real wasabi is incredibly expensive. The reason for this is that wasabi is hard to grow, requiring specific conditions to thrive to the point where it can be harvested. It’s uncommon to see real wasabi outside of Japan, where demand for it is highest.

If you happen to have a bag of real wasabi powder, you’ve likely spent a pretty penny on it. It’s made by drying wasabi root and grinding it into a fine powder that can be sprinkled into your food.

Chances are, though, the wasabi powder you’ve found isn’t actually made from wasabi. It’s probably a mixture of dried horseradish and green food coloring.

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Is Wasabi Powder Healthy?

Real wasabi powder is just dried and powdered wasabi root, so it has many of the same health benefits of the plant from which it came.

Wasabi root is known for a whole host of positive effects on your health. For example, it’s been shown to have anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. What’s more, eating wasabi root may aid in weight loss because it has compounds that prevent the development of fat cells.

Read Also: What Does Real Wasabi Taste Like?

Is Wasabi Powder Real Wasabi?

As we mentioned above, most powdered wasabi you’ll find in grocery stores isn’t real wasabi. It’s usually a mixture of horseradish and green food coloring, which will achieve a similar effect to wasabi’s notorious heat.

That being said, it’s not impossible to find wasabi powder made from real wasabi. You can find this [amazon fields="B00UKCN75I" value="link" title="Dualspices Japanese Wasabi Powder"] online, for example. Just keep in mind that wasabi powder made from authentic wasabi will be on the expensive side.

Related Article: Where is Wasabi Grown in Japan?

What is Real Wasabi Made Out of?

If you’ve gotten your hands on authentic wasabi paste or powder, it’s made from the root of the wasabi plant. More specifically, the plant is called wasabia japonica, and wasabi powders and pastes come from the plant’s rhizome.

Wasabia japonica famously grows in Japan (hence the name), but there are other countries around the world that have learned to cultivate the plant.

Wrap Up

In most grocery stores, the bright green wasabi powder on the shelves isn’t actually made from wasabi. This is to conserve expenses because real wasabi is surprisingly costly.

If you manage to acquire some actual wasabi powder, you’re in for a real treat. It’s perfect for lovers of all things spicy or traditional Japanese cuisine.