What Is Real Wasabi? Here's Why You've Probably Never Had It

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Learn the differences between real & fake wasabi

Co-authored by Ed Kuoha and Elaine Heredia, BA

Last Updated: January 6, 2026 Fact Checked

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What is real wasabi?

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Differences

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There's a high probability that the "wasabi" you've been eating your entire life has actually been horseradish with green food dye added to it! But that's not necessarily a bad thing, especially if you enjoy eating the imitation. To make sure you're not missing out on some great new flavors, read on to find out what real wasabi is and how to distinguish it from the fake wasabi.

Real vs Fake Wasabi

Illustration commparing real wasabi vs fake wasabi, including the differences in ingredients, taste, appearance, rarity, and price

Ingredients: Real wasabi is made with grated wasabi stem.
Taste: Real wasabi has a slightly sweeter, more floral taste.
Appearance: Real wasabi is pale green.
Rarity: Real wasabi is mainly grown in Japan.
Price: Real wasabi is expensive, costing upwards of $100 per pound.

Section 1 of 2:

What is real wasabi vs fake wasabi?

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Real wasabi is a plant native to Japan, whereas fake wasabi is horseradish. To make real wasabi, chefs grate the stem, called the rhizome, of the wasabi plant. When grated, the rhizome releases volatile compounds, which are responsible for its super spicy taste. The wasabi plant comes from a family of vegetables called Brassica that also includes horseradish. Wasabi and horseradish both have strong, hot flavors, but horseradish is easier to grow and obtain. For that reason, it's often used as a substitute for real wasabi.^{[1]
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Research source}
- Real wasabi also loses its potency just 2-3 days after harvest, says chef Ed Kuoha.^{[2]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Ed Kuoha
  Chef
  
  Expert Interview} This could be another reason that so many chefs opt for imitation wasabi made with horseradish, because it has a stronger flavor.
- Where to buy real wasabi: You can purchase real wasabi at your local Asian market. You might also be able to buy it from a sushi restaurant, since it's a popular ingredient in sushi. Just make sure the wasabi the chef uses is authentic and not horseradish!

Section 2 of 2:

Differences Between Real Wasabi & Fake Wasabi

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Real wasabi is made with grated wasabi, whereas the fake version is made with horseradish. The easiest way to check if the wasabi you're buying is authentic is to read the ingredients list. If you see horseradish, but not wasabi, it's not the genuine article!
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Taste Real wasabi is extremely spicy, just like the imitation, but it also tastes slightly sweet and almost floral.^{[3]
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Research source} Furthermore, according to Kuoha, "you don't get the same burn" from the real thing as you do from fake wasabi, which usually contains horseradish.^{[4]
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Expert Source

Ed Kuoha
Chef

Expert Interview}
- Some people prefer how the fake wasabi tastes, and that's okay!
When you think of wasabi, you probably think of its bright green color, since that's what it usually looks like on store shelves and in restaurants. But real, freshly grated wasabi is actually pale green! If you see bright green wasabi that looks almost artificial, it's probably made with grated, white horseradish root that's been dyed green—and therefore, it's fake.^{[5]
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Real wasabi is hard to find. It's grown almost exclusively in Japan, but it requires a carefully curated climate to grow and takes at least 2 years to mature. There's simply too high of a global demand for growers to keep up. Unless you go to an Asian market or sushi restaurant that uses real wasabi, or find a local grower, you'll have a hard time finding real wasabi powder, paste, or fresh wasabi plants.^{[6]
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Because real wasabi is rare, it's also expensive. Expect to pay upwards of $100 per pound for it!^{[7]
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Research source} In comparison, fake wasabi products made with horseradish can cost as little as $10 or less. And now you know why the fake stuff is so popular!