Yuzu
Origin / Growing regions
Although yuzu has long been a very popular citrus fruit in Japan (where it is cultivated), China and Korea, it is a genuine insider tip in Europe. The yuzu plant presumably originated from a cross between two wild citrus fruits bred by the Chinese in the central Yangtze Delta thousands of years ago.
Description
The yuzu originated as a cross between sour mandarins and ichang lemons. It grows on trees roughly two and a half metres tall and is relatively frost-resistant. There are several different types, which have large or narrow leaves or broad or thin petioles, respectively.
Yuzu
Fruit
Golden-yellow yuzu fruits resemble small oranges or mandarins and exhibit a rough, uneven skin. They are about the size of tennis balls and weigh approximately 100 grams. They range in shape from round to slightly flattened and contain up to 40 large seeds.
Flavour
The flesh of this fruit has a slightly acidic taste and a very intense citrus aroma, which is reminiscent of limes but intensified by a mildly bitter highlight. Due to its intensity, just a few drops are sufficient to add a refining touch to foods and sauces. The highly aromatic zest is also used in cooking.