The wasabi tube is an excellent option if you do not have the possibility to grate fresh wasabi with your sushi or your Japanese dishes. Unfortunately, not all of them are the same and some of them have nothing to do with real wasabi. On the market, there are all kinds of wasabi in tubes, of different qualities, tastes, textures and colors. We have tested several wasabi in tube that can be easily obtained and we will give you our opinion and our classification.
- Top 1 – Hon Wasabi Izu from Kameya
- Top 2 – Hon Wasabi Shizuoka by Tamaruya
- Top 3 – Hon Wasabi Premium by S&B
- 4 – Wasabi from Kelly Loves
- 5 – Wasabi in tubes in supermarkets
Top 1 – Hon Wasabi Izu from Kameya
For us, this is the best wasabi in a tube on the market; it is produced in the Shizuoka region of Japan. More than 78% of the national production comes from this prefecture, the birthplace of wasabi. Among them, Izu wasabi, which grows at the foot of Mount Amagi, is praised every year in national competitions. Izu is arguably the best place for wasabi in Japan.
“Hon Wasabi” means“real wasabi” because we have the real wasabi plant and not horseradish. Horseradish is often used in the making of first price wasabi and is then colored green. Indeed, the latter grows much faster than the wasabi plant, hence its lower cost. On the other hand, it stings the nose without bringing much flavor. People who have only tasted wasabi in a tube with horseradish have never tasted real wasabi.
Even if it does not contain 100% wasabi, with the name “hon wasabi” on the tube, you can be sure that the taste will be superior and that you will be tasting authentic Japanese wasabi.
Main ingredient: wasabi (about 45%)
The texture is the closest to freshly grated wasabi! We like it very much and it gives to our Japanese dishes and sushis a lot of flavors and a better tasting without making you teary-eyed.
Top 2 – Hon Wasabi Shizuoka from Tamaruya
Another wasabi paste that contains about 36% wasabi, which is excellent in taste. It also comes from the Shizuoka region. Its geographical location, at the foot of Mount Fuji, favors the cultivation of this plant which requires excellent water quality
Main ingredient: wasabi (about 36%)
Texture-wise, this wasabi paste in a tube contains small pieces of wasabi stem and root , which is not unpleasant. It is also produced in Japan under the brand Tamaruya, a century-old company specialized only in wasabi! For the anecdote, the wasabi kit kat comes from this Tamaruya company.
In these 2“hon wasabi” you will have a quality wasabi , better than in most of the Japanese restaurant chains that use powders for their wasabi. An advice, look carefully at the composition of the ingredients and always choose the“hon wasabi” or“wasabi premium” with“wasabi” or“wasabia japonica” as the main ingredient.
To find them, don’t hesitate to go to delicatessens, not necessarily Asian. The hon wasabi, can also be found on the internet.
Top 3 – Hon nama Wasabi Premium from S&B
Among the wasabi in tube of S&B, the hon wasabi premium is in our opinion the best of the brand. Indeed, in this version, there is no horseradish but wasabi up to about 30%. Its texture seems natural to us, without stinging the nose
Moreover, it is more easily found in Asian grocery stores than the two previous versions.
Main ingredient: wasabi (about 30%)
4 – Wasabi from Kelly Loves
This is a wasabi that can be found in Sushi Daily kiosks in some supermarkets in France. This one is composed of both horseradish (33%) and 7.2% of wasabi. As mentioned above, most wasabi in tubes use horseradish because its texture is similar to wasabi and it is quicker to harvest. However, its taste is blander
Main ingredient: horseradish (33%) and wasabi (about 7.2%)
In the wasabi in tube of Kelly loves, we find really a good compromise which does not prick the nose strongly and which brings a pleasant savour. It has a rather natural color and a smooth texture. You can test it without any problem.
5 – Wasabi in tubes in supermarkets
The brands present in supermarkets in France are S&B, Tanoshi and Oshiya. Unfortunately, in these 3 wasabi in tube, we find the famous fluorescent green paste that stings in the nose, with a lot of additives and dyes.
If you look closely at the ingredients, horseradish dominates with 20 to 30% of the product, from 1% to 4% of wasabi (which arrives around the 5th position) and for the rest you will find for some turmeric and sometimes sugar.
Main ingredient: horseradish (20 to 30%) and wasabi (about 1 to 4%)
For those who like the taste of wasabi but fear that it may sting the nose, we recommend diluting the wasabi in shoyu soy sauce. You can also make it into a whipped cream and add it to your dishes, you will see that it is surprisingly light and very pleasant.
Do not hesitate to send us your feedback and opinion on the wasabi pastes in tube that you like or not. Don’t hesitate to suggest us to test other brands or products in comments!
