Even when chocolate was in its infancy as a delicacy, during the Aztec empire, chilies were mixed into the chocolate potions for zip. So wasabi played the role of the chilies.
Wasabi (ワサビ（山葵）is sometimes known as Japanese horseradish and is in the Brassicaceae family along with horseradish, cabbage, and mustard. The root of the wasabi plant is used as a condiment, either finely ground or made into a paste.
The zip in wasabi is more like that of a hot mustard rather than that of chilies which results from capsaicin. The burning sensations are felt more in the nasal passages than the tongue like the sensations from capsaicin.
The burning sensations of wasabi are not oil-based, therefore they are somewhat ephemeral compared to those of chili peppers. The stimulating effect of wasabi vapor is similar to that of smelling salts and has been tested to create a smoke alarm for people living with deafness. One sleeping person awoke within 10 seconds of having wasabi vapor sprayed into the room.
The pungency of wasabi comes from a compound, isothiocyanate, that is produced when enzymes are released from cells ruptured by grating and grinding. Some isothiocyanates inhibit microbe growth, so maybe in the future wasabi can be used to prevent food spoilage and as a disinfectant.
Wasabi grows along stream beds in mountain river valleys of Japan. However, people are beginning to grow it commercially in the United States in the Pacific Northwest and the Appalachian Mountain regions of North Carolina. You can see pictures of the North Carolina crop at this site.
Ginger is another "zippy" ingredient in the Black Pearl Bar. The pungency of ginger comes from volatile oils similar to those of mustard (therefore wasabi). Detailed information about the differences between the zip in ginger and wasabi and chilis can be found at "Fire and Spice."
Black sesame seeds add a delicate crunch to the Black Pear Bar and a bit of the sublime. The phrase "open sesame" from the Arabian Nights refers to the fact that the pods containing sesame seeds pop open when the seeds are ripe. Assyrian gods drank wine made from sesame seeds when they met to create the world. In Hindu legends, sesame seeds symbolize immortality.
Black pearls are rare. In Tahiti they were reserved for royalty and are surrounded by mystery. They are thought to be a gift from God that is endowed with healing powers. They symbolize hope for wounded hearts.
Throughout the world many myths about pearls involve heavenly dew, tears, the moon and the sacred feminine. In one Tahitian legend, the God of peace and fertility, Oro, descended on a rainbow to offer an oyster to humans as a gift. The oyster gave birth to an exquisite black pearl, which Oro offered to princess Bora Bora as a symbol of his everlasting love and affection.
According to another Tahitian legend, oysters are attracted to the moonlight falling on the ocean. They rise from the depths to bask in the moonlight and the moon endows each oyster with a drop of heavenly dew. After the drop becomes polished, it wraps itself with shimmering garments in the colors of Tahitian black pearls, including gray, blue, green, gold, and pink. To the Ancient Greeks, pearls symbolized love and marriage and when worn would bring marital bliss. They believed that pearls were conceived from drops of water that fell from Aphrodite as she emerged from water.
An ancient Sri Lankan myth involves a lake of tears created by tears shed by Adam and Eve. Eve's tears produced white pearls and Adam's tears produced black pearls. Black pearls are rare compared to white pearls because men shed tears less often than women according to the legend.
Indian warriors believed pearls formed from tear drops, so they placed them on their swords before battle to remind them of the pain and suffering caused by using swords.
The ancient Chinese believed that black pearls were created in the brains of dragons and fell from the sky when dragons fought. From this belief came the human pursuit of the "pearl of wisdom." To the ancient Chinese this required the difficult process of slaying the dragon which was equivalent to achieving wisdom through the difficult experience of the journey of a hero or heroine. You need to kill a live oyster to obtain a valuable pearl. Similarly you must surrender to the struggles of life and release old attitudes, identities, values and behaviors in order to obtain something of great value.
You must look over the dark and ominous sea for a tiny simmering light emanating from a tiny pearl. You can test your values, courage, and determination by seeking the tiny pearl or stand on the shore looking at others who are brave seekers. If you seek the gift of the goddess you can heal old wounds, purify your old heart and mind, and shed obsolete thoughts and behaviors.
Soon after I enjoyed my Black Pearl Bar, when I was at Whole Foods Market, I encountered morsels of chocolate with wasabi and chocolate creme inside. Of course I bought one to try!
You can see the morsel on the right! It even had sesame seeds. I must admit that it was richer than the Black Pearl Bar, but it was a "blob" not a bar so it was not as tidy to eat. I loved them both...and I will add chocolate with wasabi to my list of passions...which already includes black pearls.
You can see the morsel on the right! It even had sesame seeds. I must admit that it was richer than the Black Pearl Bar, but it was a "blob" not a bar so it was not as tidy to eat. I loved them both...and I will add chocolate with wasabi to my list of passions...which already includes black pearls.
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