Citrus is often associated with bright, fresh, awakening qualities. Yuzu is a particularly potent type of citrus that’s recognized for its intense flavor and aroma, bright yellow peel, and health benefits.
Yuzu is hard to find in the U.S but is plentiful in Northeast Asia. In Japan and in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yuzu is valued for its ability to promote blood flow, digestion, and to support the immune system. Today, researchers are uncovering even more health benefits like supporting metabolism, blood sugar, and longevity.
At Rasāsvāda, you’ll find yuzu peel in Rose Bergamot, a restorative spirit that blends 13+ beneficial botanicals with roots in Eastern medicine.
Read on to learn about the history and health benefits of yuzu.
Botanical Overview
Botanical Name: Citrus junos
Family: Rutaceae
Common Names: Yuzu, Japanese citron (though it is not botanically the same as true citron), Yuja (Korean), Yuja-pi (yuzu peel)
Location: Native to China and widely cultivated in Japan and Korea. Grows primarily in temperate East Asian regions
What is Yuzu Peel?
Yuzu is a yellow, lumpy citrus fruit that looks a little like a lemon but is hardly similar. Yuzu is a cross between a sour mandarin and a Chinese papeda (a bitter green fruit). It has an intense flavor and unique nutrient content. It's hard to come by outside of Asia, where it’s predominantly grown.
What Parts Can You Eat?
The inside of the Yuzu isn’t as fleshy or juicy as other types of citrus, and its sour taste makes it inedible when it's raw. Just because it’s not your typical juicy citrus fruit doesn’t mean it's not delicious. Often, the flesh or the rind of the yuzu is pickled, steeped, or mixed with other flavors to add a distinctive umami flavor to dishes.
What Does It Taste Like?
People describe the taste as something like a Meyer lemon, with a little added sourness and vinegar-like acidity. It's often remarked that the yuzu taste is so unique it is one of those foods you just have to try for yourself.
History of Yuzu Peel
Yuzu was first grown in China, where it was used in traditional Chinese medicine to improve blood flow and to relieve stomach problems. It quickly grew in popularity, and now yuzu trees can be found stretching across the landscape of Northeast Asia. Yuzu is especially popular in Japan, where it's a cultural symbol and quintessential staple of Japanese cuisine. Hot yuzu baths are a traditional way to improve blood circulation and support immunity, especially during the winter months. A soak in a yuzu-steeped tub is a traditional way to bring in the winter solstice, and yuzu can be found brightening up the grocery store shelves in Japan as soon as winter hits.
Aside from being used for a rejuvenating bath, the bright yellow citrus is found in many Japanese dishes like hot pot, ponzu sauce, teas, and broths.
The Health Benefits of Yuzu Peel
Citrus fruits contain flavonoids, carotenoids, and terpenoids, groups of compounds that are known to have health benefits. Here we’ll talk about the specific benefits of yuzu and the research behind them.
1. Supports Metabolism
Researchers think that yuzu peel may have the potential to be used for weight loss. So far, studies have only been done in animals, like one study that looked at the effects of yuzu peel on zebra fish—a fish that has genetic similarities to humans. In the study, zebra fish that were fed yuzu peel were found to have a slower buildup of body and liver fat than the fish that were given a placebo. Scientists think yuzu peel works by affecting certain receptors in the liver that play an important role in metabolism. A more recent lab study found similar results.
Lab and animal studies are just the beginning. Scientists will need to conduct studies in humans to be able to confirm yuzu’s impact on metabolism.
2. Aids in Blood Sugar Balance
Blood sugar levels aren’t something most of us think about when it comes to our daily health, but for many people, like those with certain health conditions, regulating blood sugar can be the difference between health and illness. Researchers think certain compounds in yuzu called hesperidin and naringin may play a role in blood sugar balance. These compounds may help keep blood sugar levels in check by encouraging tissues to take up more glucose. Notably, yuzu only impacts blood sugar levels during periods of fasting, not after a meal. But this study is a good start. Scientists will need to conduct more studies to fully understand yuzu's blood sugar-balancing potential.
3. Promotes Blood Flow
Yuzu is used in traditional Chinese medicine to help promote blood flow. This is likely because of hesperidin and naringin, two compounds found in yuzu that are thought to prevent blood clotting. These compounds are found in other common citrus fruits, too, but yuzu contains especially high amounts. So far, there are only a few studies that have looked at yuzu’s effect on blood clotting. One study done on rats and one on humans found promising results. But a review that looked at other citrus fruits high in hesperidin and naringin found mixed results. Scientists noted that while these compounds may have health benefits, they may not be well absorbed in amounts large enough to impact blood clotting in a major way. Healthy blood flow is an important part of heart health, so future research will focus on extracting these compounds in a way that helps the body absorb them.
4. Supports Longevity
Yuzu is high in certain compounds that have been found to help alleviate inflammation, support the overall health of the digestive tract, and increase lifespan in mice.
Human studies are still needed to confirm the effects of yuzu specifically, but researchers agree that plant-based diets help support overall health, and yuzu may be an especially potent botanical.
Yuzu Peel in Rasāsvāda
Yuzu is one of the hero ingredients in Rose Bergamot, a functional beverage that blends over 15 beneficial botanics. Yuzu adds a unique flavor depth and contains healthful compounds like bioflavanoids and other polyphenols that aid in longevity, blood flow, and metabolism.
Flavor profile: slightly sour, slightly acidic, slightly sweet
How to use: Mix it into hot or sparkling water, sip it neat, or blend it into your daily drink like a wellness tonic, smoothie, or cocktail.
Sourced from: Japan
Key Takeaways
Yuzu is a rare, aromatic citrus originally grown in China and now widely available in Japan, where its peel is valued for both flavor and function. Known for its bright, complex aroma, yuzu peel has been used for centuries in traditional East Asian medicine to support circulation, digestion, and immunity. Modern research is beginning to explore these traditions along with other health benefits, noting that compounds in yuzu peel may help influence metabolism, support balanced blood sugar, promote healthy blood flow, and contribute to longevity. While human studies are needed to fill in the gaps in research, yuzu peel remains a valuable botanical for its distinctive flavor and its wellness-promoting potential.
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Disclaimer
This content is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting any new herbal regimen, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, having existing medical conditions, or taking medication.
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Sources
IntechOpen | Citrus junos (Yuzu): Composition, Benefits, and Applications
Journal of Functional Foods | Effects of Yuzu (Citrus junos) Peel Extract on Lipid Accumulation in Zebrafish
Journal of Functional Foods | Hesperidin and Naringin Influence on Glucose Uptake During Fasting
Nutrition Research | Antiplatelet Effects of Hesperidin-Rich Citrus Extracts in Rats
Journal of Medicinal Food | Effects of Citrus Flavonoids on Platelet Function in Humans
Food Chemistry | Volatile constituents of yuzu (Citrus junos Sieb. ex Tanaka) peel oil: A review