It's worth trying real wasabi at least once to know what it tastes like and appreciate it. It has hints of grass, as it should for a vegetable/root that has be

It's worth trying real wasabi at least once to know what it tastes like and appreciate it. It has hints of grass, as it should for a vegetable/root that has been recently grated, sometimes in front of you (and it must be recently grated, to not have lost its flavor). It has a slower/deeper flavor than the horseradish stuff which hits you more immediately in the nose like mustard -- real wasabi takes just a little longer. And you can definitely tell it's a plant fiber, it's not just a mushy paste like the powdered stuff. Ask for it at higher priced places where they take a little more care about the fish quality and eventually you're bound to find some. Like so many things it's good to know the difference at least once. It's no huge loss if you only eat the horseradish the rest of the time, but at least have experienced it once!