![Wasabi root being grated for use By Chris 73 [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)] From Wikimedia Commons](https://plant.daleysfruit.com.au/trees/s/Wasabi-Mazuma-4915.jpeg)
Extremely strong pungency that is akin to hot mustard, wasabi produces vapours that stimulate the nasal passages more than the tongue. Generally used as a sauce that makes sushi or other foods more flavourful by adding spice. Use the stem sparingly and finely grated. Grows naturally along stream beds in cool mountain rivers valleys of Japan. Challenging to grow in Australia. Requires cool, moist, shaded conditions to thrive. It takes about 18 month - 2 years for plants to mature, in the meantime use the leaves and the leaf stems in salads, curries and pickled accompaniments.
