This time we traveled to DAIO WASABI Farm in Nagano Prefecture
It's about 250km or 3hour drive or train ride from Tokyo
Nagano is not only famous for the 1998 Olympics
It's also a top agricultural area
and a place where Japan's most notorious vegetable thrives
WASABI
The DAIO WASABI FARM is the largest in Japan
and allow visitors
Let's have a look around
If you ever wondered what a WASABI farm looks like, this is it!
Wasabi is not grown in the field, but literally on a bed, in the river
It needs cool pure water and shade to thrive
The water flows freely through each Wasabi bush
Rocks hold the plant and roots in place
This mountain water is clean enough to drink
making Nagano an ideal place for growing Wasabi
This water comes from the snow capped mountains in the surrounding Japanese Alps
In the spring, that snow melts
bringing with it loads of minerals in the water that Wasabi just loves to drink up
Shade is essential
and DAIO WASABI FARM covers the entire river as it meanders down hill
Under the canopy, is the Wasabi plant
Here is one. It is sometimes called Japanese horse radish
although it's a different kind of plant
Is it a root? No!
Wasabi is technically a stem
since it's submerged in water the whole time
It usually takes over one year to grow
which makes it expensive
The Wasabi leaf can also be eaten
and also has some of that Wasabi bite to it
Nagano and Shizuoka are the most famous places for it
Sushi. Wasabi is the perfect condiment for it
It's hidden on the rice
Here comes more!
Sushi shop Wasabi can look like this
Mix it in soy sauce, and enjoy
Try not to lose your rice
Go top first,or find another way
Wasabi flavor can be found in snacks
It's often sold as powder, or in tubes!
as a flavored condiment
They even have Wasabi KitKats
Does that taste like Wasabi?
Sort of...
Just a hint of that Wasabi kick, definitely worth a try
Now let's get our hand on some real organic Wasabi from the source
My guide Kagita-san shows me a nice place
where the Wasabi plant is ready to be pulled
The root holding in place are loose
and can be pulled from the ground easily
You see the Wasabi yet?
I don't
I went to the river to wash the soil away
This exposes the little root which protects the stem
To get to the valuable Wasabi stem. you have to pull away the roots and leaves
you can start to see it in the middle
the wasabi stem is just a part of the whole plant
I really wasn't expecting that
Now I can see the...
and there you go....WASABI!
This is part of the plant that we see sold in stores
Cut off the top, and the scent of Wasabi fills the air
So that's what Wasabi looks like
Traditionally , Wasabi is grated on a shark skin grater
called OROSHIKI
Push really hard
How's does it taste this fresh?
the coloring is different. It's mint-green
strong
hot!!!
It's spicy, isn't it?
Spicy!
Wasabi starts to lose its flavor within15minutes after grating
That's why in Sushi, it's put under the fish on the rice
that's Wasabi
When fresh. those Wasabi vapor will hit you hard every time
I've always wondered why Wasabi was so expensive at supermarkets in Japan
The fact is no one really knows how big a Wasabi stem will be
until it's pulled from the ground
a normal Wasabi stem takes 12 to 18 months to mature
Most Wasabi stems are small
But every now and then, you strike Wasabi gold
A big one!
Like finding a diamond
A big Wasabi can bring in as much as 10,000yen in Tokyo
Is this Wasabi Soft Cream?
You can make a lot of things from Wasabi. Like this!
Wasabi Soft Ice Cream
Taste good!
It takes like fresh cream with vegetable in it
I've never seen this before
Turbo charger Ice cream cone
You feel me?
haven't had enough?
There is Wasabi Juice!
Stir it up to get the Wasabi going!
If you need something stronger, try this
that's right. Wasabi Beer
It's mean, green and loaded with Vitamin C
Those are real bits of good stuff in there. Great match
this beer will go great with that!
Wasabi croquet sandwich garnished with Wasabi leaves
Chow time, in the country side
All the Wasabi stuff has got me thinking
and I know just the guy to answer my questions
I asked Kagita-san what food matches well with Wasabi
and what he finds interesting about this amazing Japanese plant
Where is Wasabi used in Japanese cuisine?
DAIO Wasabi Farm is also a pleasant place to walk around
It's often used as location in movies and TV shows
Most famously in the Kurosawa film "DREAMS"
as part of the village of watermills
This truly is Wasabi Paradise
After enjoying the day, and getting your Wasabi fix,
How about going inside for more Wasabi?
there is Wasabi wine
Wasabi salad dressing
More Wasabi Ice Cream
Are you craving Wasabi pickles?
I am
There's even the Wasabi bear
for that special someone in your life
and more!
the range is amazing
All I can say is go for it all