[masraum]

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Wassabi in the US is horseradish not the real stuff.

Yep, Wasabi root (related to horseradish) is expensive.

Originally Posted by JavaBrewer

Really? I have eaten my share of raw fish in Japan and can't tell a difference.

Due to cost, most Japanese places use the fake stuff too, I believe.

Originally Posted by Hugh R

Java

Read the ingredients of US Wassabi. It's horseradish. Real Wassabi is very expensive.

Originally Posted by vash

real wasabi is not blow your nostrils open hot. very sweet and mildly gentle with the heat.

there is a great sushi joint here. you have to save up money to eat there. on some of his creations he takes a real wasabi root and rubs it on a square of shark skin to grate a wad up. amazing.

i'm still saving money for my next visit.

The place that my wife and I go here in Houston (Kubos) has Wasabi available on request. I always request it. The real stuff has a great flavor and is a little hot. The fake stuff is just about the heat, no flavor. Kubo's also uses the shark skin grater.