Yuzu

The yuzu (Citrus ichangensis × C. reticulata, formerly C. junos Siebold ex. Tanaka; Japanese ユズ, 柚, 柚子 (yuzu); 유자 (yuja) in Korean; from Chinese 柚子, yòuzi but in modern Chinese 香橙 (xiāngchéng)) is a citrus fruit and plant originating in East Asia. It is believed to be a hybrid of sour mandarin and Ichang papeda. The fruit looks somewhat like a very small grapefruit with an 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 in diameter, but can be as large as a grapefruit (up to 10 cm or larger).

Description

Yuzu forms an upright shrub or small tree, which commonly has many large thorns. Leaves are notable for a large petiole, resembling those of the related kaffir lime and ichang papeda, and are heavily scented.

Yuzu closely resemble to sudachi (a Japanese citrus from Tokushima Prefecture) in many regards; they share a similar mandarin-ichang papeda ancestry, though sudachi eventually ripen to an orange colour, and there are subtle differences between the flavours of the fruit.

The Yuzu originated and grows wild in central China and Tibet. Confusingly, in modern Chinese, the name 柚子 (yòuzi) refers to the pomelo, while the yuzu is known as 香橙 (xiāngchéng). It was introduced to Japan and Korea during the Tang Dynasty and it is in these nations that it is cultivated most widely.^[1]

It is unusual among citrus plants in being relatively frost-hardy, due to its cold-hardy C. ichangensis ancestry, and can be grown in regions with winters at least as low as -9 °C (15 °F) where more sensitive citrus would not thrive.

In Japan, an ornamental version of yuzu called hana yuzu (花ゆず, 花柚子) "flower yuzu" is also grown for its flowers rather than its fruit.

A sweet variety of yuzu known as the yuku, only present in Japan, became severely endangered during the 1970s and 1980s; a major attempt has been made to revive this varietal in southern Japan.^[2]

Another variety of yuzu in Japan, with knobby skin is called shishi yuzu (獅子柚子, literally "lion yuzu").^[3]

Use in Japanese cuisine

The yuzu's flavour is tart, closely resembling that of the grapefruit, with overtones of mandarin orange. It is rarely eaten as a fruit, though in the Japanese cuisine its aromatic zest (outer rind) is used to garnish some dishes, and its juice is commonly used as a seasoning, somewhat as lemon is used in other cuisines.

It is an integral ingredient (along with sudachi, daidai, and other similar fruits) in the citrus-based sauce ponzu, and yuzu vinegar is also produced.

Yuzu is often combined with honey to make yuzu 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).^[4]

It is also used to make liquor (such as yuzukomachi, 柚子小町) and wine.^[5][6]

Yuzu can also be used to make various sweets including marmalade and cake.

Yuzu kosho (also yuzukosho, literally "yuzu and pepper"), is a spicy Japanese sauce made from green or yellow yuzu zest, green or red chili peppers, and salt.

Slivered yuzu rind is also used to garnish a savoury, salty egg-pudding dish called chawanmushi, as well as miso soup.^[7]

It is often used along with sudachi and kabosu.

Use in Korean cuisine

In Korean cuisine, yuzu (called yuja in Korean) is used, thinly sliced and combined with sugar and honey, to make a thick, marmalade-like syrup containing pieces of the chopped rind and fruit. A tablespoon of this syrup (which can either be made at home or purchased) stirred into a cup of hot water makes a beverage called yujacha, lit. "yuzu tea", which is used as a remedy for the common cold and similar winter illnesses.

It is also used to make yuja hwachae, a variety of traditional fruit punch. Yuzu is also a common ingredient in salad dressings, combined with doenjang soy bean paste, rice vinegar, sesame oil, spring onion and garlic.^[8]

Use in Western cuisines

Beginning in 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 in The New York Times.^[9] The Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing Company produces a limited-release imperial Berliner weisse that features yuzu as well as London, UK based brewery Pressure Drop producing Nanban Kanpai - a Wheat IPA that features yuzu. The Finnish soft drink manufacturer Hartwall has a limited edition soda which contains yuzu. Yuzu has also been used in beer, in the Dutch beer called iKi^[10] and in Finnish cider called Golden Cap Black,^[11] brewed in Finland. BridgePort Brewing also used the fruit in its new summer beer, Summer Squeeze.^[12] The Swedish glögg manufacturer Blossa had a limited edition which contains yuzu and ginger.^[13] In Australia, a popular flavour of Mentos "3D" chewing gum is yuzu-grapefruit-orange. A Czech beermaker Zubr has a yuzu-flavoured radler.^[14] Rockridge Orchards, an artisan cidery in Washington State in the U.S., produces a yuzu cider; yuzu is the only citrus fruit that will grow in the Puget Sound area.

Other uses

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 on Tōji, the winter solstice, is a custom that dates to at least the early 18th century.^[15][16] Whole yuzu fruits are floated in the hot water of the bath, sometimes enclosed in a cloth bag, releasing their aroma.^[17] The fruit may also be cut in half, allowing the citrus juice to mingle with the bathwater. The yuzu bath, known commonly as yuzuyu, but also as yuzuburo, is said to guard against colds, treat the roughness of skin,^[15] warm the body, and relax the mind.

The body of the taepyeongso, a Korean traditional oboe, close to the Chinese Suona or the Turkish Zurna, is often made from jujube, mulberry or yuzu wood.

See also

• Japanese citrus
• Papeda
• Citrus taxonomy

References

• Kurokawa, Yoko (January 7, 2009). "The Yuko, a Native Japanese Citrus". The Tokyo Foundation. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Citrus ichangensis × reticulata.

• "Yuzu Wisely - Japan's power citrus is a welcome cocktail alternative", The Tasting Table, August 29, 2009
• Article about yuzu
• "Yuzu & Huckleberry: Flavors of the Moment", by Janet Fletcher, from the San Francisco Chronicle, Wednesday, May 31, 2006
• Photo of a bottle of yuzu juice
• "Food Marketers Put Taro, Yuzu In Recipe For Growth", by Sonia Reyes, from Brandweek, June 26, 2006

Audio

• "Cooks Look for Answers to Citrus Freeze", from National Public Radio Weekend Edition Sunday, January 28, 2007

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