Yuzu-flavoured foods were a constant theme during our trip to Japan in 2015. So, a visit to Sugi Yohoen on a trip to Miyajima saw us leaving with Sugi Bee Garden Yuzumitsu, a honey flavoured with yuzu juice. D and I love yuzu for its bright and uplifting flavour that combines the best of many citruses – the sweetness of a mandarin, the sourness of a lemon, and the bitterness of a grapefruit – in mellow balance.
Citus fruits contain citric acid, making this Yuzumitsu is great for recovering from fatigue and refreshing the body. As with the other honey flavours by Sugi Bee Garden, this honey can be used as a topping on desserts, pancakes, yoghurt and ice cream or in recipes and cocktails. Our preference is to use it in a refreshing drink.
At the recommended ratio of 1:5, the bright yellow honey dilutes to the pale yellow colour of pub squash. Bright notes of yuzu with a slightly bitter edge came through in the head, but an intense sweetness from the honey follows quickly to keep the bitterness in check. Combined with the honey, the yuzu notes re-emerge with a mellower flavour in the finish, leaving a refreshing aftertaste. Like the Kyohō & Honey, there is no distinct floral note from the sweetness of the honey, and the drink remains enjoyable with a mellower sweetness at a ratio of 1:8.
This bottle of Sugi Bee Garden Yuzumitsu contained 300 g. It was produced in Japan and purchased on Miyajima, Hiroshima, Japan in 2015.