yuzu

British  

/ ˈjuːzuː /

noun

1. a citrus fruit about the size of a golf ball, a hybrid of a primitive citrus called Ichang papeda and a mandarin, which grows on tall trees in Japan and has a strong sour flavour. Its rind and juice are a popular ingredient in Japanese cookery

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Etymology

Origin of yuzu

C21: Japanese

Explanation

A yuzu is a sour fruit that's related to lemons and oranges. A ripe yuzu is the size of a clementine and has a bumpy peel that's bright yellow. The fragrant East Asian yuzu is a hybrid fruit, a cross between a sour mandarin orange and an Ichang papeda. It was originally grown in China, though it's most often found in Japanese and Korean cuisine, from soups and sauces to desserts. Yuzu isn't just sour — its flavor is complex, often described as a combination of citrus fruits with floral undertones. Yuzu is Japanese, and in Korean it's called yuja.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

yuzu

You can hear it in the way she pronounces tortang talong or yuzu kosho crisp.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Later, in 2018, a photographer named Katsuhito Watanabe exploded in popularity outside his native Japan with his videos of capybaras in yuzu baths.

From Slate ● May 27, 2026

It also pairs well with anything that adds brightness and acidity, namely lemony or citrus-centric sweets, like a lemon sugar cookie, lemon bars and yuzu bars.

From Salon ● Dec. 13, 2025

Seoul's presidential office said the drink was flavoured with yuzu, a citrus fruit.

From Barron's ● Nov. 1, 2025

A yuzu and pear preserve has taken the top title at the World Marmalade Awards.

From BBC ● Apr. 26, 2025