used for wasabi paste is commonly called the "root". It has been more accurately characterized as the rhizome or the stem, or the "rhizome plus the base part of the stem". Stores generally sell only this part of the plant.

The fresh rhizome is grated into a paste, and eaten in small amounts at a time. Traditionally, coarse sharkskin is used to grate the root, but metal graters called oroshigane are