Tamaruya Shizuoka Hon-Wasabi Mizuaoi (田丸屋本店 静岡本わさび 瑞葵)

The story behind it

Tamaruya Honten opened in Shizuoka in the early Meiji era and is best known for its wasabi-zuke. Shizuoka is also a major growing region for hon-wasabi, raised on the cold, clear spring water of Mount Fuji and the Abe River.

Mizuaoi, the top of the range, uses Shizuoka-grown hon-wasabi. Behind the heat that shoots up your nose sit the aroma and faint sweetness only real wasabi has. The finish is nothing like the horseradish-based products on most shelves.

This much aroma, out of a tube. Serve it with sashimi or soba and the heat gives way to aroma and sweetness.