Japanese lemon (yuzu)

Japanese lemon (yuzu) is a hybrid of a plant called Ichang papeda (ornamental citrus) and common mandarin. This exotic fruit for our country has been known in its homeland - in China - since the time of Confucius himself. Popularity for this fruit came in the seventh and eighth century, when Japanese lemon (yuzu) actually entered the Land of the Rising Sun thanks to Buddhist monks. And today, in its wild form, the plant, also called yuzu or juno, grows in Korea, central China and Tibet.

A Japanese lemon (yuzu) is a shrub or small tree that can reach no more than 4 meters in height. It is noteworthy that the branches of the plant cover numerous spines of rather impressive size. In addition, the Japanese lemon (yuzu) is characterized by frost resistance - it is not afraid of even nine-degree frost.

Outwardly, Japanese lemon (yuzu) resembles mandarin, but the skin of the fruit is rougher. On average, the skin is about

3. 9 millimeters thick, and its color can be either golden yellow or dark green, depending on the degree of maturity of the fruit. A variety of Japanese lemon (yuzu), which is distinguished by a bumpy crust, is commonly called "shishi yuzu, " which means "lion. "

To taste, the fruits of Japanese lemon (yuzu) are somewhat more acidic than the same simple lemons or even limes. They have a slightly tart aroma, while capturing light coniferous and floral hues. The calorie content of Japanese lemon (yuzu) is about 21 kcal per 100 grams. By the way, for the Japanese, Japanese lemon (yuzu) symbolizes optimism, inspiration and well-being.

The most favorite seasonings from this fruit among the inhabitants of Japan are the peel and juice of the fruits. For example, often the zest of Japanese lemon (yuzu) is strained in miso soups, and its juice is added to some marinades and sauces. In addition, vinegar, salad dressings, alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are often made with zest and juice of this sour fruit. And Japanese lemon (yuzu) can be added to jams, marmalade and jam.

The green fruits of Japanese lemon (yuzu) also find their application - they are used to prepare spicy yuzu-koshu paste (yuzukose), which also includes hot chili peppers and sea salt. In addition, syrups based on Japanese lemon (yuzu) are considered a good natural remedy for treating colds. In general, it has been proven that regular consumption of this fruit contributes to the stimulation of the blood and digestive systems of the human body.