Yuzu is a frost-hardy citrus fruit grown in Asia, used in various cuisines and sometimes grown ornamentally. It is a cross between tart tangerines and paphang ichang and is available in Asian markets as whole fruit, zest, and juice. Yuzu is used in sauces, cakes, desserts, and jams, and its essential oil is used in bath products and candles. The fruit is typically the size of a tangerine and has bumpy, pointed surfaces.
Yuzu is a variety of citrus grown in Asia. The trees produce distinctive tart fruits that are used in Chinese, Korean, and Japanese cuisines; Western cooks have recently adapted the flavor of fruit for their own purposes. In some regions, the plant is also grown ornamentally, in which case it may produce inferior fruit. Cooking ingredients such as whole yuzu, zest, and juice are sometimes available in Asian markets; for people in the right climates, this tree can also be grown at home.
One of the most notable traits of the yuzu tree is that it is very frost hardy. It can withstand colder temperatures than many other citrus fruits, thriving in USDA zones nine through 11 and sometimes even further north under the right conditions. The trees also tend to be relatively small, but produce a high volume of aromatic fruit when well cared for.
This citrus cultivar is formally known as Citrus junos. It is believed to be a cross between tart tangerines and paphang ichang, a type of lemon. The fruits appear to have originated in China, where they were grown for some time before being introduced to Japan and Korea. In all of these countries, wild trees and plantations of yuzu can be found, and the Japanese have developed a specifically ornamental cultivar that produces beautiful, aromatic flowers.
There are many uses of yuzu in Asian cuisine. The sour juice is often used in sauces, such as Japanese gravy ponzu. The juice is also used in cakes and desserts, along with the zest, which can sometimes be candied. Koreans sometimes make a version of jam with yuzu, and a variety of other jams, jellies, preserves, and spreads are made from the tart, highly aromatic fruit. The fruit is also treated to extract its essential oil, which is mixed into bath products and scented candles.
The color of a yuzu can range from yellow to green when ripe, and the fruits are typically around the size of a tangerine, with very bumpy, pointed surfaces. A special variety known as lion yuzu has particularly sinewy skin. If you’re in a region where fresh fruit is available, look for specimens with no soft spots, but don’t worry too much about discoloration and uneven skin, as these traits are normal. In an area where fresh is not available, you may be able to purchase juice or powdered forms; if none is available, choose a tart grapefruit, which is probably the closest approximation of the common flavor.
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