In May 2025, the KANKITSU LABO US team hosted THE YUZU BUZZ, a collaborative event with Kato Sake Works in Brooklyn to celebrate yuzu as an ingredient and the release of their newly upgraded Yuzu Sake, made with our 100% Pure Yuzu Extract. To mark the occasion, we invited three like-minded creators—Borough Chocolates, yellow pear coffee, and musubin—to join us in showcasing how yuzu can be used in unexpected and delicious ways.
Borough Chocolates crafted The Bee’s Knees, a white chocolate bar inspired by the classic cocktail of the same name. It’s filled with a yuzu and honey ganache, layered with lemon caramel—a tart and sweet combination that hits all the right notes. This solid version of their most coveted chocolate bar is layered with the Dry Candied Yuzu Peels from KANKITSU LABO, white chocolate, and Valrhona’s Yuzu Inspiration couverture, which adds a bright citrus aroma and a touch of salty crunch.
yellow pear coffee brought something surprising and nostalgic: Yuzu Banana Pudding. Banana pudding tends to lean sweet, but by mixing in our 100% Pure Yuzu Extract, they added just the right amount of acidity to balance the flavors. The result was light, refreshing, and hard to stop eating.
musubin, New York’s first Japanese grab-and-go rice ball shop, created three original onigiri for the event:
- YUZU GOMA, with our Yuzu Roasted Sesame Seeds rolled around the rice;
- YUZU MISO, topped with miso and our Organic Yuzu & Grape Spread, then lightly grilled;
- and YUZU TUNA, filled with tuna and wrapped in our Yuzu Seasoned Roasted Nori.
At the center of it all was Kato Sake Works’ new Yuzu Sake, now made using our extract sourced from Kawakami Yuzu grown in Hagi City, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The juice is pressed with a belt press juicer—a method that mimics hand-squeezing—to produce a smoother, cleaner yuzu profile with a more consistent aroma. It’s a sake with a stronger, brighter citrus character—and it was exciting to finally share it with everyone.
Thanks to all who stopped by, tasted, and supported the collaboration. We’re looking forward to sharing more yuzu experiences with you soon!
