Most supermarket wasabi isn’t actually real wasabi at all—it’s usually just horseradish dyed green! Real wasabi, made from the rhizome of the wasabi plant, is much rarer and has a more delicate, fresh heat compared to the sharp punch of the imitation version. So, that fiery green paste on your sushi? It’s probably a clever trick of nature… and food colouring!
Almost all mainstream supermarkets in the UK, US, and Europe sell “wasabi” that is actually a mixture of horseradish, mustard, and green food coloring (such as FD&C Blue#1 or spirulina).
Sainsbury’s: S&B Wasabi paste (a common horseradish-based brand).
Asda: Sachet Wasabi found at sushi counters.
Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, and Ocado: Stock similar, widely available brands like Blue Dragon and S&B, which contain little to no real wasabi.
