Not all peas are created equal and wasabi peas are no exception.

I took four different brands and compared them for martini suitability.

All of them cut the mustard, but the subtle differences might sway your opinion on which brand to buy in the future.

Sourcing

I took wasabi peas from Yutaka, wasabi flavoured peas from Savour (but picked up from Longdan), hot green peas (also collected from Longdan) and Wasabi peas from Farm Pack.

In general, wasabi peas make a good accompaniment to martinis. They are dry, hard, crunchy and fiery, contrasting sharply with the cold, oily, botanical flavour and liquid mouthfeel of a martini.

However, they are not to everyone’s taste. The fire of the wasabi can also clash with the gin so be warned that this might not be a pairing to your reference.

Nonetheless, if you’re partial to a spicy pea, here is the verdict.

Hot Green

First up are the hot green peas from Longdan. Of all the peas these ones were the smallest, but also had the most complex flavour profile. Unlike the others, these were flavoured with garlic which gave them a warm and moreish aftertaste. They were also the peas with the most natural colour. Recommended.

Farm Pack

The Farm Pack wasabi peas had good crunch. They also had the most fire with a slight sweetness in the aftertaste. Overall very satisfying to munch. They were also the most luminously coloured out of all the brands. Super green.

Savour

The Savour wasabi peas had the most substantial crunch with a solid, satisfying texture. They also had a good flavour that balanced salty umami with light mustard fire. They also had the most vibrant colour, being neither too lurid nor too dull. Probably my favourite but mind your teeth!

Yutaka

The Yutaka wasabi peas were the most subtle. They were paler in colour than the others and the flavour was the least fiery of all of them. Nonetheless, this actually paired quite nicely with the martini as there was no clashing in the mouth. The crunch was less dense and satisfying than the Savour but probably means they are safer for those with sensitive teeth. As such, I would probably recommend them as the safest pair of hands and most reliable all-rounder.

What can I conclude from this extensive scientific study? They were all good and if you like the flavour of wasabi and the crunch of a roasted pea to accompany your slick, cool martini, then I recommend trying out your own locally available brands.

Kanpai!