   , is a plant, member of the brassicaceae family, which includes cabbages, horseradish, and mustard. it is also called japanese horseradish, although horseradish is a different plant (which is often used as a substitute for wasabi). its stem is used as a condiment and has an extremely strong flavor. its hotness is more akin to that of a hot mustard than that of the capsaicin in a chili pepper, producing vapours that stimulate the nasal passages more than the tongue. the plant grows naturally along stream beds in mountain river valleys in japan. the two main cultivars in the marketplace are w. japonica 'daruma' and 'mazuma', but there are many others. ==uses==   wasabi is generally sold either as a stem, which must be very finely grated before use, as dried powder in large quantities, or as a ready-to-use paste in tubes similar to travel toothpaste tubes. because it grows mostly submerged, it is a common misconception to refer to the part used for wasabi as a root or sometimes even a rhizome, while it is in fact the stem{{cite web|title=one chefs return home and adventures rediscovering the culinary delights of tasmania|url=http://tas
Brassicaceae Japanese_condiments Japanese_cuisine_terms Medicinal_plants Spices Sushi