British Farmer Grows Local Wasabi for the First Time

By Malika Dalamal

Did you know that growing wasabi - the Japanese hot paste traditionally eaten with sushi - is notoriously difficult as it needs precise water flow and light conditions, and takes two years to harvest? The plant only grows naturally along stream beds in mountain river valleys in Japan, which is why until now it has only been available in the UK in the form of powder or paste. (These both have less than 15 percent of the actual wasabi plant in them).

But now a Dorset-based farmer has managed to grow the plant in Britain for the first time as part of a top secret project that took two years. Tom Amery of The Watercress Company told The Daily Mail they tried a variety of methods before they were successful and are now supplying top restaurants including The Ledbury and Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons with the plant to experiment with in the kitchen. Expect to see baked whole wasabi or wasabi soup on a menu soon.