Citrus sudachi (Citrus sudachi)

Description

Sudachi (Citrus sudachi; Japanese: スダチ or 酢橘) is a small, round, green citrus fruit of Japanese origin that is a specialty of Tokushima Prefecture in Japan. It is a sour citrus, not eaten as fruit, but used as food flavoring in place of lemon or lime. Genetic analysis shows it to be the product of a cross between a yuzu and another citrus akin to the koji and tachibana orange. Cultivated for centuries in parts of Japan, and perhaps nearly as well known as another sour citrus, the yuzu in that country, it has been considered an "indispensable companion" to eating matsutake mushroom. The ponzu (ポン酢, "pon vinegar"), the squeezed citrus juice used as an alternative to vinegar uses sudachi among other bitter oranges (kabosu or yuzu juices, and daidai) as an ingredient. The fruit is also the specialty and symbol of the prefecture of Tokushima, which produces 98% of the fruit sudachi in Japan. The top producing communities are the township of Kamiyama-cho and the village of Sanagouchi-son, which placed 1st and 2nd place according to 2008 statistics with a combined share of almost half of the prefecture's annual production. The plant has white flowers which bloom in May and June. The fruits form in bunches, or tight clusters, and are harvested in the fall. Though sudachi fruits will eventually develop a yellow-orange rind color, they are normally harvested and used while still green. They contain large smooth seeds, containing a green polyembryo. The sour sudachi is not consumed as whole fruit, but normally squeezed like a lemon or lime to flavor food. A half-slice of this fruit is served as garnish with many traditional Japanese dishes which include fish, soba, udon, nabe, and even some alcoholic beverages. It is considered to have a zestier flavor and aroma than lemons or limes. It also boasts a higher calcium and ascorbic acid (vitamin C) content than lemons. Sudachi flavored products (such as ice cream, vodka coolers, ice pops, and soft drinks) can also be found in Japan, particularly in Tokushima Prefecture, where the fruit is sold cheaply. The actual fruit is regarded as a delicacy in other parts of Japan, and is often expensive. Compared to the related kabosu, sudachi is much smaller at 20-25 to 40 grams as compared to 100 to 140 grams. Some California farms now grow sudachi on a commercial level, after trees became readily available to nurseries around 2008. The fruit is being cultivated in Piura, Peru as well.