Russia (bbabo.net), - The famous Japanese wasabi horseradish (Japanese eutrema), which is served with sushi and some other dishes, is under threat of extinction. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of Japan, over the past ten years, the wasabi crop has decreased by 55 percent.

Wasabi must be grown for three to four years, preferably in cold running water, then it acquires the brightest taste, on which the price also depends, more than 200 euros per kilogram. There is also a tradition to breed wasabi just in the garden, but in this case it is valued much lower.

Experts believe that there are several reasons for the decline in yields of this variety of cabbage. This is climate change - rising temperatures make the plant more vulnerable to mold and rot. Also, wasabi plantations, many of which are located on the banks of mountain rivers, are harmed by more frequent unexpected floods and downpours. In addition, the heirs of the wasabi plantation owners do not want to continue the work of their ancestors, considering it difficult and unprofitable. At the same time, almost every family that grows wasabi has its own secrets passed down from generation (it is believed that the tradition of using wasabi in Japan dates back at least a thousand years, and possibly more). If the continuity of generations is interrupted, then the subtleties developed over the centuries will be lost.

The main wasabi growing region is the central prefectures of the Japanese island of Honshu, primarily Shizuoka Prefecture, where connoisseurs from all over the country and even from abroad come for wasabi. However, even there plantations are becoming less.

It is still unclear how the Japanese authorities will react to the threat of wasabi extinction.

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