Sure, Singapore may be hot and humid throughout the entire year. But with many parts of the world ringing in the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer this month, we’ll take it as an excuse – not that we need one – to indulge in fresh, fun and fruity flavours.
Yuzu – a citrus fruit that’s believed to have first been grown in China, but is now robustly cultivated across Japan and Korea – has found its way into our hearts with its tangy yet mellow flavour and aromatic fragrance. Savoury uses include combining it with soy sauce and vinegar to make ponzu, and it’s also found in many desserts: from cakes and sorbet to scones and tarts.
Read on for our must-try yuzu items.
Beat the summer heat with a scoop or two of Lychee Yuzu Sorbet from Apiary, one of Singapore’s most popular boutique gelato operations. The icy and refreshing non-dairy delight is made from scratch with no artificial additives, and features plenty of juicy lychees and fragrant Japanese yuzu zest. Those who prefer to order it for delivery will be happy to know that it’s available in 500ml tubs, which can be purchased on Apiary’s website.
84 Neil Road, Singapore 088844, +65 6493 7273
81 Joo Chiat Road, #01-01, Singapore 427725, +65 6980 6979
61 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 8, #01-02, Singapore 569814, +65 6980 6296
If there was ever a competition for the most beautiful yuzu cake, this offering from Zee & Elle would stand a good shot at taking home the prize. The confection is made with a fluffy yuzu sponge, which is sandwiched between layers of freshly made yuzu curd and lovely and floral manuka honey-infused cream. The contrast of sweet and tangy flavours hits the mark, and the dehydrated fruit crowning the cake makes it almost too pretty to eat.
524 MacPherson Road, Singapore 368215, +65 6741 4514
Most of the items on this list include dairy, but those who are avoiding the latter can try the Vegan Yuzu Parfait from Locaba, which specialises in low-carb, vegan-friendly desserts. Packaged in a glass jar, it’s composed of a thick layer of dairy-free cream, a zesty compote made from yuzu and apricot and a nutty almond crumble for that all-important crunch. It’s best enjoyed chilled, so we recommend savouring it straight from the fridge.
2 Kallang Avenue, #01-08/13, Singapore 339407, +65 9793 6557
Scones, anyone? Homegrown bakery Cheryl Scones makes a range of tender and flaky delights in both Western and local flavours: think Cheesy Scones, Butterscotch Oat Scones and Milo Chocolate Scones. We love the fresh-out-of-the-oven Yuzu Blossom Scones for their subtle yuzu taste and piping of cream cheese on top. Order a few for pick-up or delivery, and tuck in for a fruity breakfast that feels like dessert.
466 Crawford Lane, #01-04, Singapore 190465, +65 9061 2596
Flor Pâtisserie is known for its delicate cakes and pastries that blend the best of French and Japanese baking techniques. And the Yuzu Chocolate Brick that spotlights an unexpected flavour pairing is no exception. Alternating layers of bittersweet chocolate sponge and luscious yuzu chocolate cream are topped with yuzu jelly, yuzu custard cream and fresh fruit. The combination of yuzu and chocolate is sublime, and makes for a memorable bite.
2 Duxton Hill, #01-01, Singapore 089588, +65 6223 8628
53 Upper East Coast Road, Singapore 455214, +65 6974 9885
If you’re looking for a pretty-in-pink cake that suits a special occasion, you can’t go wrong with Nesuto’s gorgeous Yuzu Raspberry Cake. Available in a range of sizes, it’s composed of a light Japanese vanilla soufflé sponge sandwiched between thin slabs of yuzu meringue mousse and fresh and tart raspberries, before being slathered in a ruby-hued ganache and adorable puffs of cream. Single slices are available at their Tanjong Pagar outlet.
53 Tras Street, #01-01, Singapore 078992, +65 6980 5977
For a fuss-free and wallet-friendly yuzu treat to enjoy while you’re on the go, nab a Citrus Yuzu Donut from popular purveyor City Donut. Similar to its other offerings, the donut has an airy dough that’s been piped with a nicely refreshing yuzu cream. It isn’t overwhelmingly sweet, even with the addition of a sugar coating on top, and is best paired with a cup of coffee for an afternoon pick-me-up.
2 McCallum Street, Singapore 069043, +65 6223 1425
238 Thomson Road, #01-72/73, Singapore 307683, +65 6250 2917
Butter loaves and pound cakes take us straight back to our younger days. For an elevated take on the classic childhood treat, there’s the Yuzu Lemon Butter Loaf from home-based bakery Bread & Butter. All parts of the fruit – peel, zest and puree – are used, and provide punchy yuzu notes that contrast with the butter flavour. It’s finished with lemon icing and freshly grated lemon zest, which ups the citrus factor even further (we’re certainly not complaining).
https://breadandbutterbyxy.com/
Searching for a yuzu delicacy with an earthy and nutty twist? The Sesame Yuzu Cake from Olsen Bakehouse is here to check all your boxes. The bakery uses yuzu specially imported from Korea, which it fashions into a sweet-sour yuzu curd. This is paired with fluffy black sesame sponge and speckled buttercream frosting to create the confection, which is garnished with edible flowers and gold nuggets for a picture-perfect finishing touch.
462A Crawford Lane, #01-73, Singapore 191462, +65 8891 5819
Savour the classic combination of yuzu and cheese at LUNA, a boutique bakery situated along Amoy Street. Their popular Yuzu Meringue Cheese Tart has a firm, crusty shell and is piped with plenty of fragrant yuzu filling and yuzu-infused cheese, before being crowned with fluffy meringue peaks that are soft-torched to perfection. This is a dessert that we could keep coming back for again and again.
53 Amoy Street, Singapore 069879
This article was first published on Singapore Women’s Weekly.