Wasabi is a spicy green paste made from a Japanese plant, often served with sushi.
“Wasabi” is borrowed directly from Japanese わさび (wasabi), the name of the plant and the condiment made from its stem. The word likely has older roots in Japanese, but its modern form is now stable.
Most “wasabi” outside Japan is actually dyed horseradish with mustard, not real wasabi, because the real plant is rare and expensive. Its sharp heat blasts your nose more than your tongue and fades quickly, unlike chili pepper burn.
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