Find out how this seemingly complex fruit is surprisingly easy to use.
Here’s what you should probably know about buying and cooking with yuzu.
Fortunately, you don’t have to be a seasoned food professional to know how to use this fruit.
Photo: Getty Images / manbo-photo
What Is Yuzu Fruit?
So, what does a yuzu fruit look like?
It is similar in size and appearance to a tangerine, but its rind is thick and bumpy.
Yuzu’s peel starts off green and turns into a warm yellow when ripe.
What Does Yuzu Taste Like?
Yuzu is very sour and tastes like a mix between a tangy lemon, bitter grapefruit and sweet orange.
Its tart flavor profile is underscored with hints of floral and herbal notes.
However, the fruit is more widely used in the former.
One of the island’s prefectures holds afestival every fallsolely dedicated to the fruit.
What Is Yuzu Used For?
In the kitchen, yuzu can be used the same way you would use a lemon or lime.
you could try yuzu in one of our lemon-based salad dressings or alemony dinner recipe.
Yuzu is also a popular ingredient found in aromatherapy and skin-care products.
Both shelf-stable and frozen options are available.
Aside from pure yuzu juice, there are many other products that feature the fruit as their star ingredient.
For something sweet, yuja-cha is an easy find at a Korean store.
What Are the Health Benefits of Yuzu?
Alimited number of studieshave also shown the positive benefits of practicing yuzu aromatherapy.
Subjects reported havingincreased levels of energy and productivityanddecreased levels of fatigue, tension and anxiety.
The Bottom Line
Yuzu is a citrus fruit valued for its aromatic and flavorful juice and rind.
Despite having a lot of seeds, yuzu is surprisingly easy to use.
Next time you find yourself reaching for a lemon or lime, go for yuzu instead.
Your dish will shine with a new level of brightness, and your palate will thank you.
