What Is Horseradish? A Detailed Explanation of Its Five Major Differences from Mustard

Horseradish, also known as wasabi radish or white radish, is a perennial herbaceous plant whose taste is similar to wasabi. It is currently commonly used as a seasoning for grilled meats, but because it is rarely cultivated in our country, it is relatively uncommon, and is generally more often seen in Japanese cuisine or Western restaurants. So what is horseradish? What is the difference between it and mustard?

1. What is horseradish?

1. Horseradish is a perennial upright herbaceous plant of the genus Armoracia in the tribe Cardamineae of the family Brassicaceae. Its stem is thick and sturdy, and the plant height is about 1 m. The whole plant is hairless. The root is thick and fleshy, spindle-shaped and white. The long leaves are oblong or oblong-ovate, with rounded teeth along the edges. The flowers it produces are white and obovate, and the inflorescence is arranged in a panicle. The fruit it bears is ovate or elliptical, containing 2 rows of seeds, with about 5 seeds per row.

2. Horseradish is a herbaceous plant whose taste is similar to wasabi. It tastes pungent, so it is used as an ingredient. At present, it is rarely cultivated in our country, mainly because most people in our country eat chili peppers, but it is relatively common in Japanese cuisine or Western restaurants. However, it is currently planted in Shanghai, Qingdao and other places in our country,

3. Horseradish is a seasoning made from the root of western wasabi. It contains pungent compounds of the isothiocyanate type and has a sterilizing effect. It is generally eaten more in Northeast China, and is generally sold wherever seasonings are sold, and is called green mustard. In addition, most of the mustard familiar in daily life is processed from horseradish.

2. What is the difference between horseradish and mustard?

Difference 1. Different plants of origin: Horseradish is a seasoning made from the root of western wasabi, and the common green mustard in daily life is generally made from horseradish; mustard, also known as western yam vegetable or mustard powder, is a pungent seasoning made by grinding the mature seeds of mustard greens. It is generally divided into two types, yellow mustard and green mustard, but only yellow mustard is genuine, because green mustard is made from horseradish, and even if it is available on the market, it is mostly dyed with food coloring.

Difference 2. Different places of origin: Horseradish is native to southern Europe and Turkey, and is rarely cultivated in our country. At present, it is cultivated to a certain extent in Shanghai, Qingdao, Heilongjiang, Liaoning and other places; mustard comes from China and is relatively common in Northeast China.

Difference 3. Different prices: Horseradish is relatively cheap. At present, most wasabi paste (green horseradish) and wasabi powder on the market are made from horseradish because of cost reasons, and its selling price is only one fifth of the price of wasabi products; mustard is slightly more expensive, and is mostly dyed with food coloring.

Difference 4. Different tastes: Horseradish tastes mild and is not as irritating as mustard; mustard tastes pungent and has a slight bitterness, and is generally hard to accept.

Difference 5. Different ways of eating: Horseradish is generally used for grilled meats; mustard is generally used to dress dishes, such as mustard cabbage, mustard cabbage and mustard chicken shreds, etc.

Overall, horseradish is a condiment whose taste is similar to wasabi. It is generally more common in Northeast China, and most of the mustard commonly eaten in daily life is also made from horseradish. Although it is very similar to mustard, the two differ to some extent in place of origin, price and taste, so pay attention when buying.