What is Japanese Yuzu? A Yuzu

This yuzu and gin cocktail recipe was one of our first recipe posts back in 2009. It’s fun to see how our photography and yuzu tree has changed over the years! Our yuzu tree was brimming with fruit this year and we’ve been enjoying this yummy cocktail on a regular basis.

What is Yuzu?

Don’t feel bad if you have never heard of this beautiful little citrus, since outside of a few Asian cuisines and particularly in Japanese cultural circles it is seldom grown or used. We’re here to tell you that yuzu is pure culinary gold. Yuzu is a citrus that isn’t eaten straight, but is used as a souring ingredient through the use of it’s juice and zest. It’s hugely popular to serve with seafood. Yuzu juice is prized for it’s ability to stay sour and fragrant when cooked at high temperatures.

What Does Yuzu Taste Like?

Yuzu is a sour, tart and very fragrant citrus, slightly smaller than a billiard ball. The flavor is reminicent somewhere between a classic Eureka lemon and an oro blanco grapefruit, but still has its own unique fragrance and flavor. It is a bit more floral and sour and utterly wonderful. It smells so good the Japanese will use yuzu for perfumes and will ritualistically bath in yuzu during Toji (winter solstice). The juice is fantastic in our yuzu cocktail recipe. Read all about yuzu citrus on our yuzu info page here.

Video: How to Make Yuzu Gin Cocktail