Photo/Illutration Kazuhiro Yanai, right, an associate professor at Matsumoto University, and Kurohime Wakanyaku Co. President Hakaru Kano show off Hon-Wasabi Tea made using wasabi leaves at Matsumoto University in Matsumoto, Nagano Prefecture, on July 9. (Yasushi Sato) 

MATSUMOTO, Nagano Prefecture--How about some wasabi in your tea? Better yet, how about tea made straight from the leaves of the spicy Japanese horseradish?

Shocking as it may seem, even here in the prefecture that ranks first in wasabi production, most wasabi leaves are tossed in the trash.

To prevent them going to waste, Matsumoto University and Kurohime Wakanyaku Co., a company that produces healthy tea products, came up with the novel idea of turning them into tea.

The result of their joint efforts is Hon-Wasabi Tea. Though wasabi is characterized by its unique spicy flavor, the tea tastes surprisingly mild, according to its creators, who unveiled the new product at the university on July 9.

Kazuhiro Yanai, 48, an associate professor at the university's Faculty of Human Health Science who has been studying effective uses of agricultural products, took note of wasabi leaves that had been discarded because there were not many uses for them.

When he dried the leaves for extraction, he found that the liquid contained a savory “umami” flavor. A component analysis showed that the liquid contained more glutamic acid and amino acid than that found in green tea, Yanai added.

Kurohime Wakanyaku, located in Shinano, Nagano Prefecture, was responsible for the roasting process of the wasabi leaves to maintain the balance between aroma, taste and color, and to remove their signature spiciness so it would be easy to drink.

The tea’s wasabi leaves are provided by Daio Wasabi Farm in Azumino, also in the prefecture. Though about 60 kilograms of leaves can be collected each day during harvest season, it is said that 100 kg of leaves will be reduced to only 9 kg after the steaming process.

It remains to be seen whether sufficient production can be achieved throughout the year.

Yanai said he developed the tea because he wanted to support wasabi growers.

Sales of the tea are handled by Azumino Shokuhin in Azumino and other companies. A package of five teabags sells for 500 yen ($4.70), excluding tax, at Daio Wasabi Farm, expressway rest stops in the prefecture, kiosks at JR Matsumoto Station and elsewhere.

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