Yuzu – All about the unique yellow fruit from East Asia

Botanically, yuzu is a hybrid of wild mandarin and sour mandarin believed to have originated in Korea before being brought to China and further developed in Japan. The yuzu fruit gives high value at the ripe stage. When the fruit is unripe and green, the rind of the small, rock-hard yuzu fruit is used as the essential ingredient in yuzu kosho, a paste-like fermented Japanese condiment whose other ingredients are chili peppers and salt. Green yuzu is usually available in late summer.

A ripe yuzu is about the size of a small fist. The texture of the rind is lumpy, bulging around the fleshy parts of the fruit inside. The yuzu fruit has a strong aroma that is completely different from that of a lemon. Yuzu contains much less water than lemon, but yuzu juice is more fragrant and attractive.

Most yuzu is grown in East Asia as well as Australia, but the USDA has banned the import of fresh yuzu fruit (because citrus diseases are highly contagious and can wreak havoc on domestic citrus economies). However, yuzu is now increasingly grown in the US, and that fruit is available seasonally from small growers.

Like many citrus fruits, Yuzu is rich in vitamin C. 3.5ml of fresh yuzu juice contains an average of 59% of the daily vitamin intake. Yuzu also contains many other antioxidants that help neutralize damaging free radicals and reduce inflammation that contributes to diseases.

Yuzu meat, juice, and rind are often used to add citrus flavor to recipes for sauces, condiments, and desserts. Yuzu fragrance can also be used to make essential oils with a relaxing effect. The scent of Yuzu helps relieve stress, anxiety, anger and fatigue in a similar way to the effects of lavender. The researchers speculate that this happens because scent increases activity in the parasympathetic nervous system (also known as the “rest and digest response,” which helps the body calm down after stress).

Store fresh yuzu berries in the refrigerator and eat within 7 to 10 days. If you buy fruit in bulk, peel it and freeze it in individual boxes or bags, which will keep for about three months!

Yuzu juice has a very strong flavor, more intense than lemon or lime juice, so when used in drinks it will be more like a bitter than a conventional fruit juice. There are quite many recipes for Yuzu juice such as using in seafood seasoning, adding to mayonnaise or brunoise or mixing it into savoury dressings and marinades along with soy, oil and garlic. You can choose a replacement of yuzu fruit with yuzu drink for your enjoyment!