What is yuzu?

Our recent citrus trend post may have already clued you in to what family yuzu belongs to, but what exactly is this citrus fruit?

Yuzu is East Asian in origin, and the fruit of a flowering plant, commonly believed to be a cross between a mandarin and another lesser-known citrus fruit from that region called Ichang papeda. The fruit itself is small and round, somewhere between the size of a tangerine and an orange, though in rare cases, as big as a grapefruit.

Yuzu can be grown in quite cold climates is known more for its distinct aroma than for its taste—it is sour like a grapefruit—and the rind and juices are often used as garnishes and seasonings in cooking.