History tells us that wasabi was discovered in the wild by a group known as the Heike clan. Following a defeat in the eighth century, the survivors of this group fled upriver to Japan’s Mount Bahun. Many of these survivors came from nobility, and were therefore familiar with the benefits of dining on vegetation along with their meat dishes. When they found the plant, they served it with their fish and venison.
Wasabi would not be cultivated as a crop until years later. It was introduced to a warlord known as Tokugawa Ieyasu, who found it so to his liking that he declared it to be a treasure and passed an order that it should only be farmed in Skizuoka.
Over time, wasabi grew in popularity throughout Japan. Farmers developed superior practices for raising the plant, coming up with higher quality wasabi with more efficiency. Some of these practices remain closely guarded secrets, which explains why authentic wasabi is such a delicacy.
You can experience the fruits of the wasabi farmer’s labor for yourself at our Bellevue Japanese restaurant. If you’ve never tried real wasabi before, come to Flo Restaurant for some of your favorites today!