Described as a happy medium somewhere between a lemon, a lime and a mandarin, the yuzu is a Japanese fruit that looks like a dimpled, yellow grapefruit. Though tart, the yuzu reveals a mild sweetness and works well as an ingredient in both sweet and savoury recipes.

If you’re having trouble finding fresh yuzus at your local grocer, you can buy bottled yuzu juice from Asian grocers to use in cooking, or purchase a yuzu plant from select nurseries. There are not many growers of Yuzu in Australia, with most of the country’s yuzu plants come from northern New South Wales grower Chillingham Bushtucker. The yuzu tree features pretty white flowers and its fruits are high in vitamin C, and are thought to be beneficial for muscular aches. In fact, in some Japanese cities you can experience a yuzu bath, where whole fruits float in onsens (hot springs).

In Japan and Korea, many people drink yuzu tea – which is purchased in a jar and has a marmalade-like consistency. You can purchase Korean yuzu tea wholesale from this Queensland-based supplier, and simply add boiling water to create a sweet, citrusy beverage. Or, pop in to addVintage Cafe for an iced yuzu drink.

Sweet-tooths can try putting yuzu sauce on a citrus carpaccio, adding yuzu to Christmas cookies, or making marmalade, a cheesecake or a teacake. Savoury favourers can try yuzu with softshell crab, in Asian stir-frys or even with hot chips.