What Is Yuzu? Discover the Unique Flavor of Japan’s Beloved Citrus

To Japanese people, yuzu is more than a citrus fruit. It’s also one of the most beloved flavors in the country’s cuisine. This post explores all of the interesting, mouthwatering ways you can use yuzu in the kitchen. From yuzu sauce to yuzu tea, we’ll provide all of the details you need to elevate your cooking with the taste of citrus. What Is Yuzu? Yuzu is a small, round citrus fruit native to Japan and some parts of East Asia. It has thick and bumpy yellow skin when ripe. The fruit shares a resemblance to both an orange and a lemon. Yuzu is used in Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisine. It originated in China but was introduced to Japan in the Nara Period (710–794). Since then, the fruit has played a significant role in Japanese cuisine. People use it to make sauces used to season popular traditional dishes. It is also used in Japanese-style desserts and drinks. Yuzu is a cold-resistant citrus fruit that can withstand frigid weather and high altitudes. It’s often harvested starting in October, in a window that lasts until the winter season. Yuzu has several applications outside of cooking. It is a major component in skin care products. The famous yuzu bath is not only a winter solstice tradition but is also known to have rejuvenation properties. What Does Yuzu Taste Like? Yuzu has a citrusy, tart, and floral taste profile. The fruit offers a mix of flavors that we can compare to individual flavors of common household fruits. It has a tangy, sour taste just like that of lemon juice. Yuzu is also quite tart and acidic, like lime. There is some bitterness in its taste, which we can compare to the bitter-sweet taste of grapefruit. Yuzu has a stronger aroma than other kinds of sweet or sour citrus fruits. When ripe, it smells floral, fragrant, zesty, and a little bitter. The fruit lends its powerful taste and aroma to many aspects of traditional Japanese cuisine. Yuzu in Japanese Cuisine: A Versatile Citrus The most useful part of yuzu in Japanese cuisine is its juice. Yuzu juice has several applications in traditional cooking. This juice is often used in savory dishes like chawanmushi and miso soup as a marinade, garnish, and seasoning. Yuzu-based sauce is one way to explore the culinary potential of the fruit. It can be used as dipping sauce for hot pot dishes or dressing for salads. Unripe yuzu may be transformed into a spicy paste known as yuzu kosho. Later in this post, we’ll reveal more about this condiment and its uses. Yuzu also plays a major role in Japanese desserts. It appears in modern recipes for cheesecake, marmalade, and mochi (Japanese rice cakes). Extracts from the fruit are also present in popular beverages like tea, cocktails, soda, and alcoholic sours. Yuzu Kosho: The Spicy & Citrusy Condiment Yuzu kosho is a spicy paste made from yuzu zest (or peel), chili pepper, and salt. This citrusy condiment is often used as a condiment in Japanese cooking. It adds a spicy, citrusy, and aromatic flavor to hot pots, sashimi, tempura, noodles, hot sauce, salad, liquor, and even wine. To make yuzu kosho, you need to allow the blend of yuzu zest, salt, and chili pepper to ferment for at least a week. Green yuzu kosho is the most common variety in Japan. It’s made from the zest of the unripe fruit and green chili peppers. Red yuzu kosho is the less spicy and more fragrant version made with ripe yuzu and red chili peppers. What Is Yuzu Sauce Made Of & How to Use It? Yuzu sauce is any condiment that gets most of its flavor from yuzu or its extracts. In Japan, the most common type of yuzu sauce is yuzu ponzu (or yuzu pon). There are other kinds of yuzu-based sauces, however. Let’s explore different adaptations across Asia: Yuzu Nam Pla: A famous Thai condiment made by mixing fresh yuzu juice and fish sauce. Yujacheong sauce: A Korean dipping sauce made from a mixture of yuzu marmalade and soy sauce. Yuzu hot sauce: A fermented hot sauce made from Japan’s yuzu kosho. How to Make Yuzu Ponzu at Home This is our recipe for crafting simple yuzu sauce at home. We’ll be making yuzu pon, a variation of Japanese ponzu sauce flavored with yuzu juice. You’ll need freshly squeezed yuzu juice, soy sauce, kombu (edible kelp), katsuobushi (dried bonito flakes), and mirin. Follow the instructions in our step-by-step guide: Step 1: Put all of the ingredients we mentioned above in a clean jar and close the lid. Leave the jar in the refrigerator for a whole day. Step 2: Use a fine mesh sieve to drain the liquid into a cup and remove the kelp and bonito flakes. Return the sauce back into the jar for storage. Step 3: Serve immediately or store for a week to six months. Yuzu Hot Sauce: A Flavorful Kick Yuzu hot sauce is a spicy condiment made with yuzu kosho. It functions like any other hot sauce; however, it offers a zesty twist. ==https://www.bokksumarket.com/products/yuzu-hot-sauce== The most authentic version of the condiment is available at Bokksu Market. The product is called Bokksu Yuzu Hot Sauce, and it’s made using high-quality ingredients from Japan. Use it in both Western and Asian cuisine. It’s the perfect product for adding complex heat and flavors to ramen, grilled meats, grilled fish, salads, pasta, sashimi, and many more dishes. It can serve as an alternative to other spicy condiments like vinegar-based sauces and wasabi. What Is the Difference Between Ponzu and Yuzu? Ponzu is a dipping sauce, while yuzu is a fruit. However, the juice extracted from yuzu is a major ingredient in most recipes for ponzu. This yuzu-based sauce is called yuzu ponzu. Generally, ponzu is made from kombu, katsuobushi, seaweed, mirin, soy sauce, and the juice of at least one citrus fruit. The citrus juice in ponzu may come from yuzu, lemon, lime, grapefruit, daidai, sudachi, or kabosu, and it determines the flavor of the ponzu. Plain ponzu is tart and thin, but you can combine juices from multiple fruits to create distinct ponzu flavors and textures. The yuzu-based ponzu tends to have a tangy, fragrant, and sour flavor. Yuzu in Drinks: From Cocktails to Teas The following are popular yuzu beverages you may love to try: Yuzu sake: You can make a low-alcohol fruit liquor by mixing nihonshu (Japanese sake) with yuzu peel, juice, or pulp. The resulting drink will be light, smooth, and fragrant. You can make yuzu liqueur by mixing the ingredients with shochu (distilled spirit) instead of sake. Yuzu tea: Also known as yuzu cha or citron tea, this beverage is made by preserving citrus fruit in a coating of sugar and mixing the resulting tea in hot water. Yuzu soda: Pure yuzu juice can be used to make this sparkling soft drink. You’ll find many companies selling bottled yuzu juice online. Yuzu cocktail: The juice and rind of the citrus fruit is often mixed with gin and other ingredients to create cocktails. Yuzu kudzu drink: The herbal drink arrowroot may be flavored with yuzu citrus juice. The Health Benefits of Yuzu Yuzu is a highly nutritious fruit filled with vitamin C, magnesium, potassium, and manganese. It possesses antioxidant properties that help to reduce inflammation, improve heart diseases, treat asthma, and prevent cancer. Foods or drinks containing yuzu are rich in citric acid, which can have some digestive benefits, such as improved gut health. The fruit contains flavonoids as well. These natural substances can protect your brain from several kinds of neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Why Is Yuzu So Expensive? Yuzu is more costly than other citrus fruits because it is in short supply. Harvesting the fruit can be a daunting task. One tree might take many years to bear a single fruit. Even in Japan, the home of yuzu fruits, harvesting the citrus is not easy. You may find more yuzu in the winter season. Thanks to the increase in global demand over the last decade, yuzu remains a rare ingredient. Yuzu in Global Cuisine: Beyond Japan Chefs worldwide are incorporating yuzu into their dishes. For example, people in Western countries spike their mayonnaise with the citrus fruit before it’s used in classic sauces. Chefs in China combine yuzu with spices and herbs to make traditional dressing. The American snack brand Doritos contains citrus as part of its flavoring. Where to Buy Yuzu Products Outside Japan You can find yuzu in a Japanese grocery store or specialty shop. The best way to get quality versions from those physical stores is to visit Japan. If you would like to save yourself the trip, get your authentic yuzu-flavored products from Bokksu Market. We offer a wide range of citrusy delights sourced from different regions of Japan. You’ll find yuzu sauces, spices, seasoning, and snacks. Cooking with Yuzu: Try It for Yourself! Embark on a culinary adventure by experimenting with yuzu in your kitchen. Yuzu kosho and yuzu ponzu are two of the most important starting points for anyone looking to incorporate the ingredient in their cooking. Try them out before moving on to other yuzu sauces.