Yuzu (Citrus ×junos, from Japanese柚子 orユズ;/ˈjuːzuː/ⓘ) is acitrus fruit and plant in the familyRutaceae of Chinese origin.[1][2] Yuzu has been cultivated mainly in East Asia, though it has also recently been grown in New Zealand, Australia, Spain, Italy, and France.[3]
This fruit resembles a yellowclementine with uneven skin and can be either yellow or green depending on the degree of ripeness.Yuzu fruits, which are very aromatic, typically range between 5.5 and 7.5 cm (2+1⁄8 and 3 in) in diameter but can be as large as a regular grapefruit (up to 10 cm or 4 in, or larger).
Yuzu forms an upright shrub or small tree, which commonly has many large thorns. Leaves are notable for a large, leaf-likepetiole, resembling those of the relatedmakrut lime and ichangpapeda, and are heavily scented.
Yuzu closely resemblessudachi (Citrus sudachi, aJapanese citrus from Tokushima Prefecture, a yuzu–mandarin orange cross) in many regards, though, unlike the sudachi, yuzu eventually ripen to an orange colour and there are subtle differences between the flavours of the fruit.
The yuzu originated and grew wild in Tibet and central China. It was introduced to Japan and Korea during theTang dynasty and is still cultivated there.[4] It grows slowly, generally requiring ten years to fruit.[citation needed] To shorten the duration to fruiting, it may be grafted onto karatachi (P. trifoliata).[citation needed] It is unusual among citrus plants in being relatively frost-hardy, due to its cold-hardyIchang papeda ancestry, and can be grown in regions with winters as low as −7 °C (19 °F) where more sensitive citrus would not thrive.[5]
Hana, also calledhana yuzu (花柚子, 花ゆず;lit.'flower yuzu') or Hanayu, with smaller fruits (50gr+), with thinner skin, a little lighter aroma, and smaller thorns[6]. It has two varieties, one with the usual bumpy skin, and one with smooth skin also having slightly less bitterness.[7]
Komatsu Sadao, one of the most famous for its aroma[9]
Shi shi, a variety with very large fruit (up to 20 cm) and knobby skin, calledshishi yuzu (獅子柚子;lit.'lion yuzu').[10]
Tada Nishiki, a variety without seeds, but a little inferior aroma[11]
No 1, a french cultivar with large thorns and large production of medium fruits, very similar to the standard[12],
No 3, a french cultivar with smaller thorns and medium sized fruits,
No 4, a french cultivar with large thorns and large fruits, up to 10cm, earlier rippening (October), slightly sweeter.
No 5, a french cultivar with less to no thorns and medium sized fruits,
B. Similar
Dangyuja, a Korean citrus fruit fromJeju Island, is often considered a type of yuzu due to its similar shape and flavor, but it is genetically a variety ofpomelo.[citation needed]
Yuko, a sweet variety of yuzu known as theyuko, probably an ichangensis x reticula. During the 1970s and 1980s became severely endangered. A major attempt has been made to revive this varietal in southern Japan.[6][13]
Yuzu's domestic production is about 27,000tons (2016).[14] Though rarely eaten as a fruit, yuzu is a common ingredient inJapanese cuisine, where the aromaticzest (outer rind) and the juice are used much in the same way that lemons are used in other cuisines.[15] The yuzu's flavor is tart and fragrant, closely resembling that of the grapefruit, with overtones ofmandarin orange.[16]
It is an integral ingredient (along withsudachi,daidai, and other similar citrus fruits) in the citrus-based sauceponzu, and yuzu vinegar is also produced.[15] Yuzu is often combined with honey to makeyuzu hachimitsu (柚子蜂蜜), a kind of syrup that is used to make yuzu tea (柚子茶), or as an ingredient in alcoholic drinks such as the yuzu sour (柚子サワー).[17]Yuzu kosho (alsoyuzukosho, literally'yuzu and pepper') is a spicy Japanese sauce made from green or yellow yuzu zest, green or redchili peppers, and salt.[2]
It is used to make liquor (such asyuzukomachi,柚子小町) and wine.[18][19] Slivered yuzu rind is used to garnish a savory, salty egg-pudding dish calledchawanmushi, as well asmiso soup.[20] It is often used along withsudachi andkabosu. Yuzu is used to make various sweets, includingmarmalade and cake. It is used extensively in the flavoring of many snack products, such asDoritos.[21][22][23]
InKorean cuisine, yuja is most commonly used to makeyuja-cheong (유자청, yuja marmalade) andyuja tea.Yuja-cheong can be made bysugaring peeled, depulped, and thinly sliced yuja, andyuja-cha, yuja tea, can be made by mixing hot water withyuja-cheong.[2]Yuja-hwachae (유자화채, yuja punch), a variety ofhwachae (fruit punch), is another common dessert made with yuja. Yuja is also a common ingredient inKorean-style Western food, such as salads.[24]
Yuzu is also known for its characteristically strong aroma, and the oil from its skin is marketed as a fragrance. In Japan, bathing with yuzu onTōji, thewinter solstice, is a custom that dates to at least the early 18th century.[25][26] Whole yuzu fruits are floated in the hot water of the bath, sometimes enclosed in a cloth bag, releasing their aroma.[27] The fruit may also be cut in half, allowing the citrus juice to mingle with the bathwater. The yuzu bath, known commonly asyuzu yu (柚子湯), but also asyuzu buro (柚子風呂), is said to guard against colds, treat the roughness of skin, warm the body, and relax the mind.[26]
As of the early 21st century, yuzu has been increasingly used by chefs in the United States and other Western nations, achieving notice in a 2003 article inThe New York Times.[29]
In the United States, theDepartment of Agriculture has a ban on the import of fresh yuzu (alongside most citrus plants) from abroad, including both the fruit and the trees.[30] This is intended to prevent the spread of contagious diseases amongst domestic crops.[29][31] However, as a result of its introduction to California in 1888, yuzu is cultivated and available for sale in the United States.[29]
^Lee, Bo-Bae; Kim, Young-Min; Pyeon, Su-Min; Jeong, Hyeon-Ju; Cho, Youn-Sup; Nam, Seung-Hee (2022). "Physiochemical properties and neuroprotective function of Korean major yuzu varieties".Food Science and Technology.42 e69222.doi:10.1590/fst.69222.
^abKhan, Muhammad Sarwar; Khan, Iqrar Ahmad (November 3, 2021)."12".Citrus: Research, Development and Biotechnology. BoD – Books on Demand. pp. 229–232.ISBN978-1-83968-723-5.Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. RetrievedMarch 28, 2023.
^Morelli, Vivian (December 18, 2017)."The Zesty World of Yuzu". NHK World. Archived fromthe original on February 20, 2019. RetrievedFebruary 19, 2019.Yuzu is also even used in the flavoring of many snack products, such as chips and chocolate bars.
^Emi, Doi (December 21, 2017)."Soaking and Seasoning: The Aromatic Pleasures of "Yuzu"".Archived from the original on February 19, 2019. RetrievedDecember 22, 2017.Yuzuyu dates from the Edo period (1603–1868) and may have been partially inspired by a form of Japanese wordplay called goroawase — the characters for "winter solstice" (冬至) and "hot-spring cure" (湯治) can both be read as tōji.
^ab"Yuzuyu".Nihon Kokugo Daijiten (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived fromthe original on August 25, 2007. RetrievedFebruary 28, 2012.
^"Yuzuyu".Dijitaru daijisen (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 2012. Archived fromthe original on August 25, 2007. RetrievedMay 22, 2012.