Ikadaba Hon Wasabi Fresh Root Shizuoka AAA

What is Hon Wasabi?
Hon wasabi (本わさび), true wasabi, is the real rhizome — nothing like the horseradish-based paste sold in most stores. Real wasabi (Wasabia japonica) grows only in cold, fast-moving mountain streams and takes years of patient cultivation. This is the Ikadaba brand, which selects only AAA-grade roots for their dense, aromatic rhizomes, fresh from Japan. Each root is about 90–100g.

Freshly grated, real wasabi gives a clean, floral heat that comes and goes cleanly — a mild, aromatic complexity, not the harsh burn of a tube. Those notes come from volatile compounds released the moment it's grated, and they're absent from horseradish-based substitutes. This is fresh rhizome, not paste or powder.

Specifications

How to use

Grate only what you need, rhizome end first, on a fine grater or a traditional sharkskin oroshigane. Let the grated wasabi rest 3–5 minutes for the heat and aroma to develop fully, then serve right away — with sashimi, nigiri, hand rolls, or thinly sliced wagyu. Wrap the unused root in a damp paper towel and keep it in the refrigerator.

Pairing notes — sashimi, nigiri, hand rolls, thinly sliced wagyu, and soba.