Horseradish grows up to 1.5 meters (5 feet) tall, with hairless bright green unlobed leaves up to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) long that may be mistaken for docks (Rumex).[3]: 423 It is cultivated primarily for its large, white, tapered
root.[4][5][6][7] The white four-petalled flowers are scented and are borne in dense panicles.[3] Established plants may form extensive patches[3] and may become invasive unless carefully managed.[8]
Intact horseradish root has little aroma. When cut or grated,
enzymes from within the plant cells digest
sinigrin (a
glucosinolate) to produce
allyl isothiocyanate (
mustard oil), which irritates the
mucous membranes of the
sinuses and
eyes. Once exposed to air or heat, horseradish loses its pungency, darkens in color, and develops a bitter flavor.
History
Horseradish has been cultivated since antiquity.
Dioscorides listed horseradish equally as Persicon sinapi (Diosc. 2.186) or Sinapi persicum (Diosc. 2.168),[9] which
Pliny's Natural History reported as Persicon napy;[10]Cato discusses the plant in his treatises on agriculture, and a mural in
Pompeii shows the plant. Horseradish is probably the plant mentioned by
Pliny the Elder in his Natural History under the name of Amoracia, and recommended by him for its medicinal qualities, and possibly the wild
radish, or raphanos agrios of the
Greeks. The early Renaissance herbalists
Pietro Andrea Mattioli and
John Gerard showed it under Raphanus.[11] Its modern
Linnaean genus Armoracia was first applied to it by
Heinrich Bernhard Ruppius, in his Flora Jenensis, 1745, but
Linnaeus himself called it Cochlearia armoracia.
Both roots and leaves were used as a
traditional medicine during the
Middle Ages. The root was used as a
condiment on meats in Germany, Scandinavia, and Britain. It was introduced to North America during European colonization; both
George Washington and
Thomas Jefferson mention horseradish in garden accounts.[12] Native Americans used it to stimulate the glands, stave off
scurvy, and as a
diaphoretic treatment for the
common cold.[13]
William Turner mentions horseradish as Red Cole in his "Herbal" (1551–1568), but not as a condiment. In The Herball, or Generall Historie of Plantes (1597),
John Gerard describes it under the name of raphanus rusticanus, stating that it occurs wild in several parts of England. After referring to its medicinal uses, he says:
[T]he Horse Radish stamped with a little vinegar put thereto, is commonly used among the Germans for sauce to eat fish with and such like meats as we do mustard.[14]
Etymology and common names
The word horseradish is attested in English from the 1590s. It combines the word horse (formerly used in a figurative sense to mean strong or coarse) and the word radish.[15] Some sources say that the term originates from a mispronunciation of the German word "meerrettich" as "mareradish".[16][17][18] However, this hypothesis has been disputed, as there is no historical evidence of this term being used.[19]
In Central and Eastern Europe, horseradish is called chren, hren and ren (in various spellings like kren) in many Slavic languages, in
Austria, in parts of
Germany (where the other German name Meerrettich is not used), in North-East Italy, and in
Yiddish (כריין transliterated as khreyn). It is common in
Ukraine (under the name of хрін, khrin), in
Belarus (under the name of хрэн, chren), in
Poland (under the name of chrzan), in the
Czech Republic (křen), in
Slovakia (chren), in
Russia (хрен, khren), in
Hungary (torma), in
Romania (hrean), in
Lithuania (krienas), and in
Bulgaria (under the name of хрян).
Horseradish is
perennial in
hardiness zones 2–9 and can be grown as an
annual in other zones, although not as successfully as in zones with both a long growing season and winter temperatures cold enough to ensure plant dormancy. After the first frost in autumn kills the leaves, the root is dug and divided. The main root is harvested and one or more large offshoots of the main root are replanted to produce next year's crop. Horseradish left undisturbed in the garden spreads via underground shoots and can become
invasive. Older roots left in the ground become woody, after which they are no longer culinarily useful, although older plants can be dug and re-divided to start new plants. The early season leaves can be distinctively different, asymmetric spiky, before the mature typical flat broad leaves start to be developed.
Pests and diseases
Introduced by accident, "cabbageworms", the larvae of Pieris rapae, are a common caterpillar pest in horseradish. Mature caterpillars chew large, ragged holes in the leaves leaving the large veins intact. Handpicking is an effective control strategy in home gardens.[20] Another common pest of horseradish is the mustard leaf beetle (Phaedon cochleariae).[21] These beetles are undeterred by the defense mechanisms produced by Brassicaceae plants like horseradish.[22]
Production
In the United States, horseradish is grown in several areas such as Eau Claire, Wisconsin, and Tule Lake, California. The most concentrated growth occurs in the Collinsville, Illinois region.[23]
30,000 metric tonnes of horseradish are produced in Europe annually, of which Hungary produces 12,000, making it the biggest single producer.[24]
Culinary uses
The distinctive pungent taste of horseradish is from the compound
allyl isothiocyanate. Upon crushing the flesh of horseradish, the
enzymemyrosinase is released and acts on the
glucosinolatessinigrin and
gluconasturtiin, which are precursors to the allyl isothiocyanate.[citation needed] The allyl isothiocyanate serves the plant as a
natural defense against
herbivores. Since allyl isothiocyanate is harmful to the plant itself, it is stored in the harmless form of the glucosinolate, separate from the enzyme myrosinase. When an animal chews the plant, the allyl isothiocyanate is released, repelling the animal.[25] Allyl isothiocyanate is an unstable compound, degrading over the course of days at 37 °C (99 °F).[26] Because of this instability, horseradish sauces lack the pungency of the freshly crushed roots.[citation needed]
Cooks may use the terms "horseradish" or "prepared horseradish" to refer to the mashed (or grated) root of the horseradish plant mixed with
vinegar. Prepared horseradish is white to creamy-beige in color. It can be stored for up to 3 months under refrigeration,[27] but eventually will darken, indicating less flavour.[citation needed] The leaves of the plant are edible, either cooked or raw when young,[28] with a flavor similar but weaker than the roots.
Horseradish sauce made from grated horseradish root and
vinegar is a common
condiment in the
United Kingdom, in Denmark (with sugar added) and in
Poland.[30] In the UK, it is usually served with roast beef, often as part of a traditional
Sunday roast, but can be used in a number of other dishes, including sandwiches or salads. A variation of horseradish sauce, which in some cases may substitute the vinegar with other products like lemon juice or
citric acid, is known in Germany as Tafelmeerrettich. Also available in the UK is
Tewkesbury mustard, a blend of mustard and grated horseradish originating in medieval times and mentioned by
Shakespeare (
Falstaff says: "his wit's as thick as Tewkesbury Mustard" in Henry IV Part II[31]). A similar mustard, called Krensenf or Meerrettichsenf, is common in Austria and parts of Germany. In
France, sauce au raifort is used in
Alsatian cuisine. In
Russia, horseradish root is usually mixed with grated garlic and a small amount of tomatoes for color (
Khrenovina sauce).
In the United States, the term "horseradish sauce" refers to grated horseradish combined with
mayonnaise or salad dressing. In Denmark, it is mixed with whipping cream and as such used on top of traditional Danish open sandwiches with beef (boiled or steaked) slices. Prepared horseradish is a common ingredient in
Bloody Mary cocktails and in
cocktail sauce and is used as a sauce or sandwich spread. Horseradish cream is a mixture of horseradish and sour cream and is served
au jus for a
prime rib dinner.[citation needed]
Vegetable
In Europe, there are two varieties of
chrain. "Red" chrain is mixed with red
beetroot and "white" chrain contains no beetroot. Chrain is a part of Christian
Easter and Jewish
Passover tradition (as maror) in Eastern and Central Europe. In the Christian tradition, horseradish is eaten during
Eastertide (Paschaltide) as "is a reminder of the bitterness of Jesus' suffering" on
Good Friday.[32]
In parts of Southern Germany "kren" is a component of the traditional wedding dinner. It is served with cooked beef and a dip made from lingonberry to balance the slight hotness of the Kren.
In
Poland, a variety with red beetroot is called ćwikła z chrzanem or simply ćwikła.
In
Russia, a very popular ingredient for pickles (cucumbers, tomatoes, mushrooms).
In
Transylvania and other Romanian regions, red beetroot with horseradish is used as a salad served with lamb dishes at Easter called sfecla cu hrean.
In
Serbia, ren is an essential condiment with cooked meat and freshly roasted suckling pig.
In
Croatia, freshly grated horseradish (Croatian: Hren) is often eaten with boiled
ham or
beef.
In
Hungary,
Slovenia, and in the adjacent
Italian regions of
Friuli-Venezia Giulia and nearby Italian region of
Veneto, horseradish (often grated and mixed with sour cream, vinegar, hard-boiled eggs, or apples) is also a traditional
Easter dish.
Horseradish is also used as a main ingredient for soups. In
Poland, horseradish soup is a common
Easter Day dish.[38]
Relation to wasabi
Outside Japan, the Japanese condiment
wasabi, although traditionally prepared from the true wasabi plant (Wasabia japonica), is now usually made with horseradish due to the scarcity of the wasabi plant.[39] The Japanese botanical name for horseradish is seiyōwasabi (セイヨウワサビ, 西洋山葵), or "Western wasabi". Both plants are members of the family
Brassicaceae.
Nutritional content
In a 100-gram amount, prepared horseradish provides 48
calories and has high content of
vitamin C with moderate content of
sodium,
folate and
dietary fiber, while other
essential nutrients are negligible in content.[40] In a typical serving of one
tablespoon (15 grams), horseradish supplies no significant nutrient content.[40]
The
enzymehorseradish peroxidase (HRP), found in the plant, is used extensively in molecular biology and biochemistry primarily for its ability to amplify a weak signal and increase detectability of a target molecule.[41] HRP has been used in decades of research to visualize under
microscopy and assess non-quantitatively the
permeability of
capillaries, particularly those of the brain.[42]
^Trinklein, David (1 July 2011).
"Horseradish: America's Favorite Root?". Integrated Pest Management: University of Missouri.
Archived from the original on 25 May 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
^Bladha, K. Wedelsbäck; Olssonb, K. M. (2011). "Introduction and use of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) as food and medicine from antiquity to the present: Emphasis on the nordic countries". Journal of Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants. 17 (3): 197–213.
doi:
10.1080/10496475.2011.595055.
S2CID84556980.
^Lossinsky, A. S.; Shivers, R. R. (2004). "Structural pathways for macromolecular and cellular transport across the blood-brain barrier during inflammatory conditions. Review". Histology and Histopathology. 19 (2): 535–64.
doi:
10.14670/HH-19.535.
PMID15024715.