Yuzu Cordial
Bar Prep • syrup
Description
A bright, balanced yuzu cordial (sweetened citrus concentrate) for cocktails and sodas. Intense yuzu aroma from zest with clean, tart juice; designed to be mixed into drinks at small doses (15–30 ml).
History
Yuzu is a fragrant East Asian citrus long used in Japanese and Korean cuisine. Cordials (sweetened fruit concentrates) are a traditional way to preserve fresh citrus flavor for cocktails and non‑alcoholic drinks.
Instructions
Step 1.
1) Ingredients: 1 cup (about 240 ml) fresh yuzu juice (or bottled yuzu juice if fresh unavailable), zest of 4–6 yuzu (or 2–3 tsp finely grated zest if using bottled juice), 1 cup (200 g) granulated sugar, 1/2 cup (120 ml) water, optional: 1/2 tsp citric acid for brightness and stability.
Step 2.
2) Sterilize storage: wash a glass bottle or jar with hot soapy water, rinse, then pour boiling water into it and let sit 2–3 minutes; drain and let air dry or keep warm while preparing syrup.
Step 3.
3) Make simple syrup base: combine sugar and water in a small saucepan. Heat gently over medium, stirring until the sugar fully dissolves. Do not boil vigorously; a gentle simmer for 1–2 minutes is fine.
Step 4.
4) Infuse zest: remove from heat, add the yuzu zest to the hot syrup, cover and let steep 20–30 minutes to extract oils and aroma.
Step 5.
5) Strain: strain the syrup through a fine mesh or cheesecloth to remove zest. Press lightly to recover oils but avoid solids.
Step 6.
6) Combine with juice: cool the infused syrup to lukewarm, then stir in the yuzu juice (and citric acid if using). Taste and adjust: if too sweet, add up to 1 tbsp fresh yuzu or lemon juice; if too tart, warm and dissolve an additional 1–2 tbsp sugar.
Step 7.
7) Clarify/age (optional): for a cleaner appearance and smoother flavor, refrigerate the mixed cordial overnight and decant any sediment or foam.
Step 8.
8) Bottle: transfer the cordial to the sterilized bottle, seal tightly, label with date.
Step 9.
9) Usage: typically use 15–30 ml (1/2–1 oz) per cocktail depending on desired intensity. Shake or stir before use.
Step 10.
10) Notes on scale: maintain roughly 2:1 (juice : water+sugar proportion) balance if scaling—the given ratio yields a bright, pourable cordial rather than a very thick syrup.
Storage
Keep refrigerated in a sterilized airtight glass bottle or jar. Label with preparation date. Shake or stir before use. Use within shelf life; if cloudy, off-smelling, or mold appears, discard. For longer storage (6–8 weeks), add 1–2 tbsp neutral spirit (vodka) or increase citric acid and ensure strict sterilization.