4 ms·

I don’t mean to say you’re wrong, but the “spice” due to wasabi is a different thing, not due to capsaicin at all. Same with mustard, it’s a similar thing. And

I don’t mean to say you’re wrong, but the “spice” due to wasabi is a different thing, not due to capsaicin at all. Same with mustard, it’s a similar thing. And then there’s yet another “spice” from the Sichuan peppercorn, again not due to capsaicin. It’s possible that COVID masks some of these but not others.

kibwen 5mo ago
> the “spice” due to wasabi is a different thing But also, outside of Japan, 95% of the time the stuff with your sushi isn't wasabi, it's green-colored horseradish-and-mustard paste.
- alpn 5mo ago
  > 95% of the time the stuff with your sushi isn't wasabi so unexpected that i had to look it up; turns out you're right: https://chefcoca.com/blogs/food-service-equipment-resources/wasabi-vs-horseradish-is-the-green-paste-on-sushi-really-wasabi https://chefcoca.com/blogs/food-service-equipment-resources/...
- ctoa 5mo ago
  That's also true inside Japan. True wasabi is really hard to grow commercially and thus very expensive.
- spidercat 5mo ago
  But the source of the spiciness is the same, at least: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allyl_isothiocyanate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allyl_isothiocyanate
- dyauspitr 5mo ago
  Isn’t wasabi just horseradish. Are you saying the mustard is what makes it not true.
  - pinkmuffinere 5mo ago
    > Isn’t wasabi just horseradish Wasabi and horseradish are different! Horseradish is used as a substitute for wasabi so widely that you definitely can get the impression they are the same. But they are different plants.
spidercat 5mo ago
I am well aware! That's why my comment says "spiciness from both capsaicin and radishes". :) I didn't feel like looking up how to spell allyl isothiocyanate when writing my initial comment. Maybe I should have! I've edited it for clarity, since it's an important distinction which adds to why I'm so danged curious about the mechanism behind my friend's temporary inability to perceive pungency. I also see how my original wording may have implied I was conflating the two, so I've expanded on my friend's experience a bit. He experimented with pepper and radish based spice sources in his pantry.
- pinkmuffinere 5mo ago
  oh sorry, not sure how i missed that! totally makes sense though, very remarkable that he lost both!

kibwen 5mo ago

> the “spice” due to wasabi is a different thing But also, outside of Japan, 95% of the time the stuff with your sushi isn't wasabi, it's green-colored horseradish-and-mustard paste.

alpn 5mo ago
> 95% of the time the stuff with your sushi isn't wasabi so unexpected that i had to look it up; turns out you're right: https://chefcoca.com/blogs/food-service-equipment-resources/wasabi-vs-horseradish-is-the-green-paste-on-sushi-really-wasabi https://chefcoca.com/blogs/food-service-equipment-resources/...
ctoa 5mo ago
That's also true inside Japan. True wasabi is really hard to grow commercially and thus very expensive.
spidercat 5mo ago
But the source of the spiciness is the same, at least: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allyl_isothiocyanate https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allyl_isothiocyanate
dyauspitr 5mo ago
Isn’t wasabi just horseradish. Are you saying the mustard is what makes it not true.
- pinkmuffinere 5mo ago
  > Isn’t wasabi just horseradish Wasabi and horseradish are different! Horseradish is used as a substitute for wasabi so widely that you definitely can get the impression they are the same. But they are different plants.

spidercat 5mo ago

I am well aware! That's why my comment says "spiciness from both capsaicin and radishes". :) I didn't feel like looking up how to spell allyl isothiocyanate when writing my initial comment. Maybe I should have! I've edited it for clarity, since it's an important distinction which adds to why I'm so danged curious about the mechanism behind my friend's temporary inability to perceive pungency. I also see how my original wording may have implied I was conflating the two, so I've expanded on my friend's experience a bit. He experimented with pepper and radish based spice sources in his pantry.

pinkmuffinere 5mo ago
oh sorry, not sure how i missed that! totally makes sense though, very remarkable that he lost both!