Kilkenny company to feature on RTÉ tonight

A Kilkenny-based horticulture company will play a starring role on the final episode of the RTÉ One series 'HOMEGROWN', set to air tonight at 8pm.

The episode will spend some time looking into how the wasabi plant is grown by Beotanics and FitzGerald Nurseries in County Kilkenny.

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On the final episode of HOMEGROWN, Kitty visits Clonakilty to learn about skincare made from plants while Colm heads to Wexford and Kilkenny to find out how wasabi is grown in Ireland. Watch tonight on @RTEOne at 8:00pm or catch up here: https://t.co/vcOAbs46eX #homegrown pic.twitter.com/wl2aQWBOb3

— Bord Bia - The Irish Food Board (@Bordbia) December 19, 2022

Wasabi is a unique plant with a distinct flavour due to the presence of isothiocyanates, which are formed by the breakdown of glucosinolates by myrosinase enzymes.

These molecules are also the principle bioactives associated with wasabi, and are known to have antioxidative, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory and anti-mutagenic activities.

Although grown mostly for its enlarged underground stem, wasabi leaves can also be used in many dishes.

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Beotanics have made extensive trips to Japan studying its production in the Shizuoku region in one of the oldest known sites for wasabi production. 

They have discovered through research that not only is wasabi cultivation possible in Ireland but it is very suited to the Irish climate.