12 replies to this topic

[edwardsboi]

Reading the thread about mirin, I was surprised about all the different types of mirin and how you needed to read Japanese to pick out the right mirin.

Since yuzu is pretty rare to find in America, do you run into the same problems with yuzu juice in America where you have to be careful about what type you buy? How do I know if I'm buying quality yuzu juice? The ingredients should just be mostly yuzu, right?

[Kuma]

I found that the yuzu juice I got in the USA was very salty. It was years ago so I don't have the bottle any more.

[edwardsboi]

Does combining lemon and grapefruit juice approximate what yuzu juice should taste like? Or, is it better to just buy yuzu juice?

[torakris]

What do you want to do with the yuzu juice?

[edwardsboi]

Its for two recipes- tuna tartare with yuzu and wasabi and chilled watermelon cocktail with yuzu.

[helenjp]

I think I'd try a Meyer lemon rather than grapefruit/lemon mix.

[prasantrin]

If you can't get yuzu, then just use whatever citrus (or acid) you think will complement the other flavours. There's really no point in trying to replicate yuzu flavour if you don't know what the dish tastes like using yuzu (assuming you've never made the dish before).

[tomdarch]

The only "yuzu juice" I've been able to find in person has been the salty "sauce". I'd second the suggestion that Meyer lemon is the closest substitution.

If you really want yuzu, they are available in the states. Check Japanese markets like Mitsuwa. From some time around November through some time around January, you can order them from the nice folks at Ripe to You. They aren't cheap, but it's the real thing.

[helenjp]

Agreed, you can't replicate the flavor, but you can consider what the yuzu is adding to your recipe...citrus that is only mildly acidic, highly aromatic, and on the sweet side of sour.

[ognatam]

I live in New York, and am surrounded by several Japanese markets that are only a short trek away. As a previous poster said, markets like Mitsuwa, Sunrise Mart, and Jas Mart are great for finding rare Japanese items. However, depending on where you live, you might not have that same luxury. Luckily, the internet exists. A while ago, I bought this yuzu juice from Mitsuwa and fell in love. It was incredibly fragrant, tasty, you know - the real deal. It lasted me for a long while because only a few drops were needed. It was 100% yuzu juice and extremely flavorful. I highly recommend this brand, if you're interested.

When that yuzu juice ran out, I went back to Mitsuwa to get another bottle, but they were all sold out. Blasphemy. And because I'm not the most patient person in the world, I decided to buy a different sort of bottled yuzu juice pictured below. It's a gargantuan bottle for about $30. It's not horrifyingly bad, but it's not that great either. The ingredients are as listed: filtered water, yuzu juice, distilled vinegar, citric acid, orange juice concentrate, evaporated cane juice, yuzu oil and natural flavor. Some might argue there is no difference, but I strongly disagree.




If I had the choice, I would not use it for flavoring my food, but instead use it for cocktail drinks mixed in with shochu, vodka, and sake. Perhaps I'd even make a yuzu custard or granita out of it. (I have a long way to go before the bottle is finished before I may buy the beloved replacement listed on Amazon.)

Final verdict: You know you're buying quality yuzu juice when the only ingredient listed is yuzu juice. And if your budget and location permits, the next best thing to that is buying yuzu fruits. The end.

[Hiroyuki]

According to this site (Japanese only), the latter product is a yuzu seasoning, not yuzu juice.

The former product is a "yuzu su" (lit. yuzu vinegar). That particular brand seems like real yuzu su, which simply means yuzu juice, but some products labeled as yuzu su contain salt and/or other ingredients.

[ognatam]

According to this site (Japanese only), the latter product is a yuzu seasoning, not yuzu juice.

The former product is a "yuzu su" (lit. yuzu vinegar). That particular brand seems like real yuzu su, which simply means yuzu juice, but some products labeled as yuzu su contain salt and/or other ingredients.

Exactamundo.

[dcarch]

I saw fresh yuzu for sale in a Japanese store here in NYC area.

Rounder and slightly bigger than a kumquat, $2.00 each.

dcarch