Yuzu Is the Citrus of the Season — Here’s Why Chefs Love it

Citrus season is in full swing, and one variety is trendier than ever. While yuzu has long been popular in East Asian cuisines, this tangy, fragrant fruit has been popping up on restaurant and bar menus throughout the country for the past several years. Here’s everything you need to know about yuzu and how to incorporate it into your cooking.

What is yuzu?

Yuzu, also known as Japanese citron, is a small, tangy citrus with bumpy skin and large seeds. It originated in China, but today is most commonly associated with Japanese cuisine. A full-size, ripe yuzu is comparable in size to a tangerine, but has a yellow peel. The citrus is a staple in Japanese cooking and a key ingredient in condiments like ponzu and yuzu kosho.

Related: 15 Citrusy Yuzu Recipes to Try This Summer

What does yuzu taste like?

Often described as a combination of other citrus fruits, yuzu has a sour taste similar to lemon, a sweetness comparable to a mandarin orange, a bitterness akin to a grapefruit, and a tart lime-like punch. Besides its all-in-one citrusy flavor, yuzu is also prized for its fragrance. Both the peel and juice of yuzu are highly aromatic, with complex floral notes like honeysuckle.

Despite its subtle sweetness, yuzu is rather tart and used much like a lemon or lime, so it’s not ideal for cutting into wedges and snacking like an orange.

Related: The 5 Best Citrus Juicers, According to Our Tests

How to use yuzu

The versatility of yuzu is one of the reasons why chefs and bartenders love it. The peel can be zested with a Microplane to add a pop of floral flavor to cakes and frostings, or sliced into strips and used to infuse sugary syrups for cocktails and desserts.

Yuzu juice can be used in place of lemon or lime juice in recipes to add a similar tangy acidity, but with a more aromatic, floral flavor. Try adding yuzu juice to aioli to make a bright and tangy dipping sauce, or boost the brine for Namasu or other quick pickles with its sweet acidity. You can also stir the juice into cocktails like a Sparkling Yuzu Gimlet for a citrusy sour note. If you can’t find fresh yuzu citrus, bottled yuzu juice is a great substitute.

Related: Yuzu Amaro Spritz

Where to buy yuzu

Fresh yuzu citrus can be found at most Asian grocery stores or ordered online from Pearson Ranch during its season (typically fall through early February, though the season can vary from year to year). Bottled yuzu juice can be found at most Asian grocery stores or online at YUZUCO. Keep a bottle in your fridge to add a punch of citrusy flavor to dishes year-round.

Related: Japanese Cooking Pantry Essentials

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