[vilmosi]

I found real wasabi to have the opposite effect. Strong initial kick, then more of a nutty taste to it.

[bookofjoe]

Yes. I was shocked the first time I had real fresh-grated (on a sharkskin grater — TMI?) wasabi. I had expected it to be really hot but unlike its ersatz version, the real thing had only an initial heat, which then faded to reveal a complex of multi-layered flavors and aromas, "nutty" among them.