Azumino valley, nestled in the heart of the Japanese alps in Nagano prefecture, is one of the most famous regions in Japan for high quality spring water grown wasabi, known as Sawa Wasabi. Azumino “Heiki Shiki”, or flat land wasabi, sources crystal clear, pure spring water from underground volcanic aquifers seeping frigid, oxygen and mineral rich water to a small cluster of generational family farms that feeds the wasabi every step of its life. 4 Star Seafood is sourced directly from an individual farmer, bypassing the central Ota market and stronghold of Japanese unions, providing you with the freshest wasabi available in the United States. Harvests take place early in the morning, packaged, and sent to Haneda airport and shipped via refrigerated airplane overnight…then delivered directly to you.
This particular cultivar is known as UM-2, or Ultra Mazuma 2, and is a hybrid strain created specifically for the water and climate conditions unique to this farmer. Once grated, UM-2 is a verdant green, with a rich, creamy texture, bright sweetness and not a trace of bitterness. Wasabi of this caliber is only possible through meticulous care, optimal genetics, generational farming knowledge and an 18-24 month growth cycle in pristine, mountain fed spring water.