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

The 21-piece hemisphere collection makes a delightful and delicious gift, featuring flavors such as saffron, Persian rose, yuzu and burnt caramel.

From Salon • Nov. 20, 2025

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

From Barron's • Nov. 1, 2025

From coffee infused with yuzu to milky mango topped with matcha mousse, these are our favorite picks for over-the-top drinks that taste just as good as they look.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

The store used to serve matcha desserts too, such as lemon yuzu mochi doughnuts dusted with matcha, but now saves the precious powder for beverages.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 22, 2025

Miyo, 55, said the limoncello gave the loaf "a kick" but the secret ingredient was a Japanese citrus fruit - commonly known as yuzu.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2025