How to Use Yuzu Juice
Yuzu juice is sharp like lemon, but with a floral, mandarin-like perfume that lemon does not have. A spoonful changes a dressing, a dipping sauce or a drink.
This guide covers what yuzu is, where Japan's best comes from, and the easiest ways to use the juice at home. It sits inside our Pantry Masterclass.
Our yuzu juice: Japanese Pure Yuzu Juice, 150ml, 100% yuzu from Kōchi with nothing added.
What Is Yuzu?
Yuzu (柚子) is one of Japan's kōsan kankitsu, sour and fragrant citrus grown not for eating the flesh but for the juice and the peel, much as lemons and limes are used in Western kitchens. Japan's Ministry of Agriculture (MAFF) explains how each part is used: the juice goes into seasonings and drinks, the flesh into jams and sweets, and the peel is shaved or chopped as a fragrant garnish.
Kōchi on Shikoku is Japan's top yuzu-growing prefecture. Two yuzu areas carry Japan's Geographical Indication (GI) mark: Monobe yuzu from Kami in Kōchi, prized as fresh fruit, and Kitō yuzu from Naka in Tokushima, selected over half a century for thick peel, plenty of juice and a good aroma.
Source: MAFF aff magazine January 2017 citrus feature; GI register entries for Monobe yuzu (No. 96) and Kitō yuzu (No. 42). Facts extracted and reworded.
How to Use Yuzu Juice
- Ponzu. Yuzu juice is the citrus in ponzu, the sharp citrus and soy dipping sauce. In Kōchi, yuzu ponzu is in every kitchen, for hotpots, tofu, sashimi and grilled fish. Ponzu made with yuzu tastes rounder than ponzu made with lemon.
- Dressings. A spoonful is enough to lift a dressing; use it where you would use lemon.
- Fish. A few drops over sashimi or grilled fish.
- Drinks. Add a little to sparkling water or a highball.
Our juice is unsalted, so you season it yourself. Start with a little: yuzu is strong.
Source: MAFF Nippon Dentōshoku Zukan page for Kōchi yuzu ponzu; aff citrus recipe tips; product specifications. Facts extracted and reworded.
The Yuzu Bath
Yuzu is not only for the kitchen. MAFF notes that its scent is used in cosmetics and bath products, and that the yuzu bath, yuzu-yu, with whole fruit floating in the water on the winter solstice, is an established custom in Japan.
Source: MAFF aff magazine January 2017 citrus feature. Facts extracted and reworded.
Popular Products
Japanese Pure Yuzu Juice, 150ml
Okabayashi Kōchi yuzu: 100% juice, labelled 無添加 (no additives), unsalted.
Kōmi Premium Yuzu Ponzu, 300ml and 1L
Our own yuzu ponzu, with yuzu juice and bonito dashi, made for us by a family that has brewed soy for eighteen generations. Pre-order: due in the UK in mid-January 2027. Also in 1L.
Yuzu to drink. Hakutsuru Nigori Yuzushu, 700ml, a cloudy yuzu liqueur made with 100% Japanese yuzu · Sekai Itto Junmai Daiginjo Yuzushu, 720ml
Frequently Asked Questions
What does yuzu taste like?
Sour like lemon, with a floral, mandarin-like scent.
Can I use yuzu juice instead of lemon?
Yes, in most recipes; use a little less at first, as the flavour is strong.
Where does yuzu come from in Japan?
Kōchi is the top producer; Monobe (Kōchi) and Kitō (Tokushima) yuzu carry Japan's GI mark.
Is yuzu juice salted?
Ours is pure, unsalted juice; check the label on others.
How do I use yuzu in a ponzu?
Mix yuzu juice with soy sauce and taste as you go, or buy it ready-made.
Where to Buy Yuzu Juice in the UK
We stock Japanese Pure Yuzu Juice from Kōchi, with yuzu ponzu, yuzu sushi vinegar and yuzu liqueurs, and deliver across the UK.
For more, browse the Pantry Masterclass, or read What is yuzu, and other Japanese citrus and our Shichimi guide.
Sources: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan: aff magazine January 2017 citrus feature; GI register entries for Monobe yuzu (No. 96) and Kitō yuzu (No. 42); Nippon Dentōshoku Zukan page for Kōchi yuzu ponzu; aff citrus recipe tips; retrieved 5 November 2026; product specifications. Facts extracted and reworded, not reproduced.
