Yuzu was earlier classified as a valid species but studies show it to be an Ichandarin, a hybrid of Ichang papeda (Citrus cavaleriei) and Sour mandarin (Citrus sunki).
Yuzu is a fruit that has a one-of-a-kind combination of dry, sweet, fresh, floral, and tart notes that distinguish it from all other citrus fruits. Yuzu essential oil has a scent that is reminiscent of the taste of sweet and sour candy.
People say that Yuzu is like happiness in a bottle. The essential oil is well-known for its ability to uplift mood from depression and eliminate unpleasant odors. Additionally, it has antibacterial, antiviral, and immune-stimulating properties that make it a valuable aid in fighting colds and flu.
The complex citrus/floral aroma of Yuzu makes it an intriguing component in natural perfumes. With its crisp top/middle notes, it adds a bright and refreshing quality to citrus, sweet, floral, and earthy fragrances.
According to a Japanese farmer and distiller of Yuzu essential oil, the Yuzu tree takes around 18 years to mature before bearing fruit. Moreover, since it only bears fruit every other year, genuine Yuzu is rare and expensive. To shorten fruit-bearing time, some farmers graft a young Yuzu plant onto another citrus tree. However, this results in fruit with poor flavor and aroma. True Yuzu fruit from a non-grafted tree is known in Japan as Misho Yuzu. Misho Yuzu is immediately recognizable by its bumpy surface, and it ripens from green in October to golden yellow in mid-November. The most vibrant essential oil closest to the true aroma of fresh peels comes from the golden yellow Misho Yuzu cold-pressed fruit peels harvested in late October to November.