What's the difference between mustard, horseradish and wasabi? In fact, they are different parts of three completely different plants.
Horseradish is the root (white), wasabi is the underground stem (green), and mustard is the seed (yellow). The reason why they all appear green is because of the color substance added during processing.
In short, horseradish and wasabi are not really mustard, and "wasabi" is just a generic term for them.
Yellow Mustard
Yellow Mustard
Yellow mustard is technically real mustard. Yellow mustard is usually found in various Western cuisines, where it is used as a sauce to coat grilled meats. Yellow mustard can also be found occasionally in Japanese cuisine in dips and creative dishes.
Left/Western barbecue dishes Right/Japanese creative dishes
Because yellow mustard can have a distinctly pungent flavor, most seasonings on the market add substances such as wine, spices, sugar and vinegar to balance out the taste and to lessen the pungency.
It has been said that the pungency of yellow mustard is more towards roasted flavors and onion and garlic flavors, which is still a clear difference from wasabi and horseradish.
Yamabi Wasabi
The familiar Japanese wasabi is actually made from a plant called wasabi.
Wasabi is very particular about the environment in which it grows, and usually takes 2-4 years to reach full maturity in a clean, flowing riverbed, making it very expensive.
People grind the roots of wasabi into powder to make a variety of wasabi seasonings. Because the spicy flavor of wasabi evaporates easily, there is a great deal of care in how it is preserved, how long it is ground, the choice of grinding plate and even the trajectory of the grind, with some Japanese restaurants even choosing to grind it on the spot in order to better preserve its flavor.
The most common partner of wasabi is sushi and sashimi, which is used for sterilization on one hand, and removing the fishy taste and enhancing the texture on the other. It is fascinating in that the spiciness is not overdone, and after a short stay, it lingers on the lips with a characteristic botanical sweetness.
Yamabi is also a special edible health plant, rich in nutrients that can play a variety of pharmacological effects such as immunomodulation, antibacterial, anticancer, antioxidant and so on.
Horseradish Horseradish
Horseradish, also known as horse radish, has a similar flavor to wasabi. However, because horseradish is not as demanding in terms of growing conditions, it is more affordable than wasabi. That's why horseradish is used in almost all commercially available green mustard sauces.
Horseradish and wasabi are both naturally pungent, but wasabi has a much warmer overall flavor than horseradish, with a refreshing plant aroma and sweet aftertaste that makes the spiciness softer and smoother, while horseradish's spiciness tends to be more rugged, with a hint of the natural earth.
Sweet Tooth's Wasabi Sauce
Sweet Tooth X Puff Puff Talk Show launched the "Laugh Out Loud Candy", and after a number of recipe adjustments, they made a milk hard candy like this one - using both precious wasabi and simple horseradish, which hit the milk with a wonderful flavor.
Is this candy an "oddity" or a "crowd pleaser"? Diners who have already eaten this comment:
"Mustard candy has a faint hint of mustard flavor, vaguely spicy, not at all punchy, very tasty."
"The wasabi flavor was in the forefront and the Horseradish flavor was in the background, and it was still done softly without being too harsh."
"Unexpectedly delicious. Creamy blend of wasabi flavors, soft in the mouth, not too spicy or too sweet, just the right amount of surprise flavor."
"Laughing Stop Mourning Candy" continues the non-sticky qualities of all hard candies, which can be chewed and held for fun. Chewing, the exciting spicy flavor from wasabi and horseradish jumps around the taste buds like hide-and-seek; while containing is a step-by-step, increasingly exciting taste experience