The Bold Citrus Flavor You'll Keep Seeing In Food And Drink In 2026 - Tasting Table

"Social media, the internet, and globalization have made the world a much smaller place. Not only are we bombarded with foodie influencers sampling exotic cuisine in real time, but you yourself can easily obtain said exotic ingredients at your local grocery store or restaurant menu. In fact, many foreign or otherwise non-native products are quickly becoming the "it" food, stateside. And the bold citrus flavor you'll keep seeing in food and drink in 2026 is yuzu."

"Native to China and popularized in Japanese cuisine, yuzu is a citrus fruit that shares characteristics with many more well-known citrus. Visually, yuzu is the size of a lemon with a bumpy yellow peel, yellow pulp and large white seeds. Its juice is as tart as a lemon but with subtle orange and lime sweetness, not too floral notes similar to grapefruit."

"While it may not be a snacking fruit like a mandarin or clementine, yuzu is a boon to sauces, drinks, desserts, and condiments. An easy swap for a lemon or lime, yuzu deserves to be the star of your next salad dressing. Its tart and subtle sweetness and floral aroma would work well in a vinaigrette with mustard and olive oil. You could also use yuzu's bright acidity to cut through the richness of tahini or peanut butter in a creamy salad dressing."

Social media, the internet, and globalization have increased exposure to exotic ingredients and made them widely available in U.S. stores and menus. Yuzu, native to China and popularized in Japanese cuisine, is a lemon-sized citrus with a bumpy yellow peel, yellow pulp, and large white seeds. Its juice combines lemon-like tartness with subtle orange and lime sweetness and grapefruit-like notes; the zest adds a floral, honeysuckle aroma. Trade shows and industry panels predict yuzu and citrus as leading 2026 food trends, and Asian-inspired flavor mashups are expected to boost its popularity. Yuzu excels in sauces, drinks, desserts, condiments, and salad dressings, where its acidity balances rich ingredients.

Read at Tasting Table