Producing olive oil is an ancient craft, but 'Chef's Olive Oil with Yuzu' harnesses those traditional techniques to put a modern, cosmopolitan spin on the classic cooking oil. The oil, produced by Huillerie St. Michel in France, is infused with yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit similar to grapefruit with overtones of mandarin orange.
Yuzu is native to Japan, and there are select foreign places around the world that it can grow. Menton, a town on the French-Italian border with a coastal microclimate, is one of those places. Yuzu grows in abundance in Menton, making it easy for Huillerie St. Michel to harvest them for its Chef's Olive Oil with Yuzu.
In terms of taste, the producers "aim for a fruity oil but most importantly it must not have an overly dominant citrus taste; the mix must be subtly controlled to get that unique...mix of citrus fruits," according to Karim Djekhar, the owner of Huillerie St. Michel.
Yuzu-Infused Olive Oil
'Chef's Olive Oil with Yuzu' Is a Gourmet Cooking Oil from France
Trend Themes
1. Yuzu-infused Products - The trend of infusing yuzu fruit into products creates an opportunity for innovative flavor combinations featuring this unique citrus fruit.
2. Locally-sourced Ingredients - The trend of sourcing locally-grown yuzu fruit creates an opportunity for sustainable and high-quality ingredient production.
3. Modernizing Traditional Products - The trend of updating classic products, such as olive oil, with unique flavors creates an opportunity to appeal to modern and cosmopolitan consumers.
Industry Implications
1. Food and Beverage - The food and beverage industry can utilize yuzu-infused flavors as a unique selling point for products, appealing to modern and innovative consumers.
2. Agriculture - The agriculture industry can invest in the cultivation of yuzu plants to create a sustainable and local source of this unique citrus fruit for various products.
3. Hospitality - The hospitality industry can incorporate yuzu-infused products, such as olive oil, into their menu offerings to appeal to sophisticated and cultured consumers.