Western Wasabi (horseradish)
Horseradish is often compared to wasabi.
Wasabi was called “Japanese horseradish” in 1903 by American botanist and plant explorer David Fairchild (1869-1954). “An Expert Describes the ‘Wasabi,’ a Japanese Horse Radish” was printed in The Evening Journal (Wilmington, DE) on September 12, 1903.
“You know most wasabi is just dyed horseradish? I worked in sushi for years. The real stuff usually only comes by request” was posted on Twitter by Sina Amedson on June 11, 2009. “normal American wasabi is just dyed horseradish paste” was posted on Twitter by Adam Norwood on November 4, 2009. “Most ‘wasabi’ is just horseradish & food coloring” was posted on Twitter by blank on July 18, 2010. “American wasabi is just really spicy horseradish dyed green #disappointing” was posted on Twitter by andres galindo on December 27, 2011. “Wait a minute. Most wasabi is just horseradish with green food coloring?” was posted on Twitter by jim cavanagh on April 23, 2012.
Japanese have called horseradish “western wasabi” “‘Western’ wasabi? Horseradish is horseradish, Kaz. I don’t give wasabi an ‘eastern’ designation” was posted on the newsgroup fj.life.in-japan on November 17, 2002. “I won’t call it as ‘Western Wasabi’ anymore because some Western supremacist really hates its being called as a Western version of Asian stuff, but it’s surely called as ‘Seiyou Wasabi’ in Japanese language” was posted on the newsgroup fj.life.in-japan on March 3, 2003. “Wasabi and horseradish do taste very similar (which is why horseradish is often referred to as ‘Western wasabi’ in Japanese and wasabi is referred to as ‘Japanese horseradish’ in English” was posted on the newsgroup soc.culture.japan on July 22, 2007. “because im a freak and google EVERYTHING most wasabi made in the states is actually horseradish dyed green..its also called ‘Western Wasabi’” was posted on Twitter by garol on February 7, 2012. ” Probably not real wasabi but western wasabi - mustard + horseradish + green” was posted on Twitter by Simon on February 17, 2012.
“Horseradish… An american wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Anthony J. Garcia on June 6, 2009. “Horseradish is the American wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Reybot on December 6, 2009. “Horseradish is American wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Matt on February 6, 2010. “Horseradish is American wasabi” was posted on Reddit—Showerthoughts on June 5, 2016. “Horseradish is just American wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Danny who? on June 15, 2018.
“Horseradish is just basically Jewish wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Ben Kaplan on February 22, 2010. “Horseradish = Jewish wasabi. Or as Jen says, ‘jewsabi’” was posted on Twitter by Mark A Curtis on April 18, 2011. “horseradish= jewish wasabi; charoset= jewish chutney” was posted on Twitter by Caroline on April 19, 2011. “‘Horseradish is jewish wasabi.’ -Anonymous at the Wolff seder” was posted on Twitter by Kevin Wolff on April 8, 2012. “Horseradish is just jewish wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Bris Angel on January 15, 2015.
“horseradish is white peoples wasabi” was posted on Twitter by DJ FLOW - Bay Area on October 9, 2010. “Horseradish is white people wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Matty Chymbor on June 1, 2013. “Horse radish is white people wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Classy Jazz Fan on September 11, 2014. “Horseradish is basically white people wasabi” was posted on Twitter by karina on December 30, 2014. “Horseradish is a white man’s wasabi” was posted on Reddit—Showerthoughts on September 1, 2017. “horseradish is just white people wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Owl Dude on June 23, 2021.
“Horseradish is just cowboy wasabi” was posted on Twitter by #1 T-Pain Fan on January 10, 2016. “Horseradish is just cowboy wasabi” was posted on Twitter by горилла on December 26, 2018. “Horseradish is just cowboy wasabi” was posted on Twitter by oh no on March 5, 2019. “Horseradish is just cowboy wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Nick Jackson on September 9, 2020.
“Arby’s horsey sauce is just redneck wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Shaky on February 6, 2019. “Horseradish is just redneck wasabi” was posted on Twitter by O.G. | Read Ranger on July 13, 2019. “horseradish is just redneck wasabi” was posted on Twitter by “?” on January 17, 2020. “horseradish is just redneck wasabi” was posted on Twitter by karly on August 28, 2020. “Horseradish is just redneck wasabi” was posted on Twitter by Austin Peacock on July 24, 2021.
“Wasabi is just anime horseradish” was posted on Twitter by Eddie on January 5, 2020. “Wasabi is just anime horseradish” was posted on Twitter by melo on January 29, 2020.
Wikipedia: Horseradish
Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana, syn. Cochlearia armoracia) is a perennial plant of the family Brassicaceae (which also includes mustard, wasabi, broccoli, cabbage, and radish). It is a root vegetable, cultivated and used worldwide as a spice and as a condiment. The species is probably native to southeastern Europe and western Asia.
Wikipedia: Wasabi
Wasabi (Japanese: ワサビ, わさび, or 山葵, pronounced [ɰaꜜsabi]; Eutrema japonicum or Wasabia japonica) or Japanese horseradish is a plant of the family Brassicaceae, which also includes horseradish and mustard in other genera. A paste made from its ground rhizomes is used as a pungent condiment for sushi and other foods. It is similar in taste to hot mustard or horseradish rather than chili peppers in that it stimulates the nose more than the tongue. Most wasabi flavoring in commerce is, however, ersatz, based on horseradish and food coloring.
Newspapers.com
7 September 1903, Harrisburg (PA) Star-Independent, “Another Great Achievement,” pg. 4, col. 2:
The latest triumph of the department in this direction was the discovery, in Japan, of the Wasabi plant by David G. Fairchild, Explorer of the Department. Mr. Fairchild, it appears, has been roaming the old world in search of “choice edibles and other food products that may be adapted to cultivation in the United States.” In pursuance of this mission he discovered Wasabi. It is something like the horseradish of this country and is used as a condiment in eating raw fish.
Newspapers.com
12 September 1903, The Evening Journal (Wilmington, DE), pg. 4, col. 6:
A NEW CONDIMENT.
An Expert Describes the “Wasabi,” a Japanese Horse Radish.
(...)
“To any one fond of such things,” Mr. Fairchild said recently, “this Japanese horse radish will prove an acceptable novelty, for there is a fresh sharpness about this appetizer that not even the finest Austrian sorts of horse radish possess.”
Google Groups: fj.life.in-japan
Why Anko is banned but Chocolates is ok?
Matthew Caesar
Nov 17, 2002, 11:22:09 PM
(...)
>I think
> also many Americans, especially those in New England region like
> oysters too. They eat them raw with ketchup and western wasabi like we
> do for sashimi.
“Western” wasabi? Horseradish is horseradish, Kaz. I don’t give wasabi an “eastern” designation. Quit segragating everything so much.
Google Groups: fj.life.in-japan
Why chocolate banned but anko ok?
Kaz
Mar 3, 2003, 6:11:24 AM
(...)
Good food is good. Foods are just universal things. Even the non-Westernized, the non-Honorary-White Anko-eating Kansai Japanese who is misconceived as an Osakan yakuza is interested in such Boston style roast beef sandwich with horseradish sauce(I won’t call it as “Western Wasabi” anymore because some Western supremacist really hates its being called as a Western version of Asian stuff, but it’s surely called as “Seiyou Wasabi” in Japanese language), Boston clam chowder, raw Kaki(oyster) with the horseradish and ketchup sauce, etc., etc.
Google Groups: de.rec.mampf
REZ: Domina-Steine
H. W. Hans Kuntze
Dec 18, 2005, 5:28:20 PM
(...)
The problem stems in part from an early moniker given by the Japanese to the (European) Horseradish plant sometime during the Meiji period. When first introduced, horseradish tasted similar enough to the Japanese native, wasabi japonica, that it was called ‘seiyio’ wasabi, meaning “western wasabi”, a name that stuck. But, somewhere along the line, at least as regards horseradish preparations for export from Japan, the preface ‘seiyou’ was (conveniently) dropped from labeling, a misleading practice still all too common today.
Google Groups: soc.culture.japan
sushi
Dave Fossett
Jul 22, 2007, 9:41:51 AM
(...)
Wasabi, horseradish, and daikon are three entirely different things, although wasabi and horseradish do taste very similar (which is why horseradish is often referred to as “Western wasabi” in Japanese and wasabi is referred to as “Japanese horseradish” in English).
Twitter
Anthony J. Garcia
@anthony_garcia
“Horseradish… An american wasabi”
1:07 PM · Jun 6, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Sina Amedson@SinaAmedson·Jun 11, 2009
Replying to @WhitneyCummings
@WhitneyCummings You know most wasabi is just dyed horseradish? I worked in sushi for years. The real stuff usually only comes by request.
Twitter
Adam Norwood@anorwood·Nov 4, 2009
Replying to @devonschramm
@overprocessed Blerg. It seems like that’d work, though: normal American wasabi is just dyed horseradish paste. Maybe vinegar would help.
Twitter
Reybot
@Reybot
Horseradish is the American wasabi
9:21 PM · Dec 6, 2009·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Matt
@mfigroid
Horseradish is American wasabi.
12:46 PM · Feb 6, 2010·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Ben Kaplan
@KapBenjamin
Horseradish is just basically Jewish wasabi.
1:22 PM · Feb 22, 2010·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
blank@yunkk·Jul 18, 2010
@SabellaSpar @SabellaSpar The root of the plant is used as a spice. Most “wasabi” is just horseradish & food coloring, though.
Twitter
DJ FLOW - Bay Area
@djflowyo
horseradish is white peoples wasabi
9:52 PM · Oct 9, 2010·Echofon
Twitter
Mark A. Curtis
@mcproject2600
Horseradish = Jewish wasabi. Or as Jen says, “jewsabi”
8:26 PM · Apr 18, 2011·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Caroline
@CarolineDobbyn
horseradish= jewish wasabi; charoset= jewish chutney
11:07 AM · Apr 19, 2011·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
andres galindo
@the_andy_lindo
American wasabi is just really spicy horseradish dyed green #disappointing
6:46 PM · Dec 27, 2011·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Leonid Mamchenkov
@mamchenkov
Learn something new every day. True wasabi vs. western wasabi http://bit.ly/trFRXF
10:00 AM · Dec 31, 2011·bitly bitlink
Twitter
garol
@pizz4princess
because im a freak and google EVERYTHING most wasabi made in the states is actually horseradish dyed green..its also called “Western Wasabi”
3:22 PM · Feb 7, 2012 from Chicago, IL·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Simon
@sibrow
Thought these waspeas tasted a lot like mustard. Probably not real wasabi but western wasabi - mustard + horseradish + green.
7:05 PM · Feb 17, 2012·Twitter for Mac
Twitter
Kevin Wolff
@djkevekev
“Horseradish is jewish wasabi.” -Anonymous at the Wolff seder.
10:54 PM · Apr 8, 2012·Twitter for BlackBerry®
Twitter
jim cavanagh
@jimshreds
Wait a minute. Most wasabi is just horseradish with green food coloring?
7:39 PM · Apr 23, 2012 from Philadelphia, PA·Tweetbot for iOS
Twitter
crazycatering.ca
@CrazyCatering
Wasabi and horseradish have very similar tastes but are easy to distinguish. In Japan, horseradish is referred to as “western wasabi”
2:04 PM · Jan 5, 2013·Sprout Social
Twitter
mervin
@pandamerv
Most Wasabi served is actually Horseradish with green coloring. Real Wasabi is just too expensive (History Channel now) #fb
11:46 PM · Feb 9, 2013·UberSocial for BlackBerry
Twitter
Matty Chymbor
@MattyChymbor
Horseradish is white people wasabi
5:12 PM · Jun 1, 2013·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Mark Reale
@markreale
western wasabi is just horse radish and green food coloring. travesty.
1:37 PM · Sep 4, 2013·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Jill Adelphia
@jilladelphia
Most wasabi is just horseradish with green food coloring. #HappyNewYear
5:14 PM · Dec 31, 2013·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Thomas
@trwhite88
Mind blown: western ‘wasabi’ is usually just horseradish mixed with mustard and dye.
4:38 PM · Jan 17, 2014·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
nickywhips
@ws_dubois
Horseradish = American wasabi
4:43 PM · Mar 19, 2014·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Tavia the woof birb
@TaviaBirb
Replying to @PupNecro
@NecroDrone Yeah it was used for sanitation. Fun fact: Most US “wasabi” is just horseradish dyed green.
2:23 PM · Mar 24, 2014·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Classy Jazz Fan
@scatfanJAZZONLY
Horse radish is white people wasabi
9:59 PM · Sep 11, 2014·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
karina
@zooweekarina
Horseradish is basically white people wasabi
6:45 PM · Dec 30, 2014·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Bris Angel
@Cryptoterra
Horseradish is just jewish wasabi
9:54 PM · Jan 15, 2015·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Jack O’Brien
@imjackobrien
Horseradish is like white people’s wasabi.
7:33 PM · Aug 23, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
tully nicole
@T_too04
Horseradish is white people wasabi
12:25 AM · Dec 23, 2015·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
#1 T-Pain Fan
@ranch_blessing
Horseradish is just cowboy wasabi
12:15 AM · Jan 10, 2016·Twitter for Android
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/Down4whiteTrash June 5, 2016
Horseradish is American wasabi.
Twitter
Meltingsnow
@RomanReloadead
Horseradish is just white person wasabi
8:40 PM · Aug 8, 2016·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Ryan Shave
@Rhino78
TIL that wasabi is sometimes referred to as “Japanese horseradish”. In Japan, horseradish is referred to as “western wasabi”.
12:30 AM · Aug 6, 2017·Ryan’s Tip of the Day
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/amarizzle September 1, 2017
Horseradish is a white man’s wasabi.
Twitter
Willow
@thedreamcreek
Replying to @thedreamcreek
Also, most “wasabi” is just green colored horseradish and actual wasabi has a more nuanced taste and pleasant tingling/numbing sensation that softly goes away…...HORSERADISH IS THE DEVIL
12:56 AM · Jan 3, 2018·Twitter for Android
Twitter
Stephen Hoover
@hooveycomedy
Horseradish is just Jewish Wasabi
5:15 PM · Mar 24, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/thelocomochoco June 3, 2018
Wasabi is the horseradish equivalent of seafood
Twitter
Danny who?
@checkyourspam
Horseradish is just American wasabi
9:20 PM · Jun 15, 2018·Twitter for Android
Twitter
горилла
@DJ_Sallinger
Horseradish is just cowboy wasabi
9:21 PM · Dec 26, 2018·Twitter for iPhone
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/jacksontdrums January 3, 2019
Horseradish is just wassabi’s little brother
Twitter
spICEy hot
@Allonsy_Anikca
Horseradish is just white people wasabi
7:28 PM · Jan 27, 2019·Twitter for Android
Twitter
hot chip
@spaceywasian
horseradish is just white people wasabi
8:46 AM · Feb 4, 2019·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Shaky
@Shakyborfer
Arby’s horsey sauce is just redneck wasabi.
8:11 PM · Feb 6, 2019·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
matthew turnquist
@MatthewTQ
Replying to @Tylante
You know wasabi is just colored horseradish in north America right?
10:03 AM · Feb 7, 2019·Twitter for Android
Twitter
oh no
@noeltbabyb
Horseradish is just cowboy wasabi.
3:47 PM · Mar 5, 2019·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
Goat Daddy (Dak)
@Dakotayeayea
Horseradish is just white people wasabi
9:20 PM · Apr 19, 2019 from Hot Springs, AR·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Jess Sacker
@jessssacker
Horseradish is just wasabi for Jewish grandmas
3:55 PM · May 18, 2019·Twitter Web Client
Twitter
O.G. | Read Ranger
@TheBryciestBoy
Horseradish is just redneck wasabi
11:53 PM · Jul 13, 2019·Twitter for Android
Reddit—SHowerthoughts
Posted by u/NextKiwi August 1, 2019
Horseradish is the western version of wasabi
Twitter
Kekoa-Ō-Manō
@WKDart
horseradish is just white people wasabi send tweet
4:16 AM · Nov 2, 2019·Twitter Web App
Twitter
Eddie
@An_Awesome_Frog
Wasabi is just anime horseradish
8:52 PM · Jan 5, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
?
@fourdarks
horseradish is just redneck wasabi
8:33 PM · Jan 17, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
melo ✧
@_melobird
Wasabi is just anime horseradish
10:20 PM · Jan 29, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Jimmy
@jimmylittle
Replying to @JenaFriedman
Absolutely. Turns out, American wasabi is just horseradish dyed green.
5:29 PM · Apr 7, 2020·Twitter Web App
Twitter
ChristyKay
@ChristineMagers
Horseradish is just white people wasabi.
7:45 PM · Jul 19, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
karly
@karlsjjr
horseradish is just redneck wasabi
7:45 PM · Aug 28, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Nick Jackson🗡
@nicholas_j15
Horseradish is just cowboy wasabi
9:37 PM · Sep 9, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Owl Dude
@avianpilled
horseradish is just white people wasabi
1:20 PM · Jun 23, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
bdrmm
@TheBdrmm
Replying to @ploogle
American “wasabi” is just green horseradish
Wasabi proper begins to lose its flavor within minutes of grating that root
11:04 AM · Jul 1, 2021·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
Austin Peacock
@austinbpeacock
Horseradish is just redneck wasabi
10:19 PM · Jul 24, 2021 from Destin, FL·Twitter for iPhone
Twitter
KettyKat
@KettyKat8
Horsey sauce: Western wasabi
3:05 PM · Aug 6, 2021·Twitter Web App
Twitter
marshall peschell
@mpeschell
Hot take creamy horseradish is just redneck wasabi #redneck
11:47 AM · Sep 2, 2021·Twitter for iPhone