Wasabi

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/wasabi

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the botanical family?Brassicaceae
2. What is the native geographic range?Japan, Russian Far East, Korean Peninsula
3. What is wasabi and why does it make your nose tickle?Wasabi is a green paste made from the grated rhizome of the Eutrema japonicum plant. Its spicy smell comes from chemicals that hit the nerves in your nose, giving a quick, sharp hit instead of a long burn.
4. Why is real wasabi hard to grow?The plant needs cool, humid soil near clean running water and consistent moisture. These special conditions are hard to find outside its native mountain river valleys, so it costs more to grow.

Isothiocyanates: A class of organic compounds responsible for the pungent flavor of plants like wasabi and mustard.
Riparian Zone: The interface between land and a river or stream, typically characterized by moist soil and unique vegetation.
Palate Cleanser: A food or drink that refreshes the mouth, preparing it for the next taste.