// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did ponzu say when it ran into its friend? "Soy" happy to see you.
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Ponzu (ポン酢) (Japanese pronunciation: [pondzɯ]) is a citrus-based sauce commonly used in Japanese cuisine.[1] It is tart, with a thin, watery consistency. Ponzu shōyu or ponzu jōyu (ポン酢醤油) is ponzu with soy sauce (shōyu) added, and the mixed dark brown product is widely referred to as simply ponzu.[2]
The term originally came into the Japanese language as ponsu as a borrowing of the now obsolete Dutch word pons, meaning punch as in a beverage made from fruit juices.[3] The sour nature of this sauce led to the final -su being interpreted as the word su (酢), meaning "vinegar".[4][5][6]
Ponzu is made by simmering mirin, rice vinegar, katsuobushi flakes (from tuna), and seaweed (kombu) over medium heat.[7] The liquid is then cooled, strained to remove the katsuobushi flakes, and finally the juice of one or more of the following citrus fruits is added: yuzu, sudachi, daidai, kabosu, or lemon (or even grapefruit, lime, bergamot, etc).
Commercial ponzu is generally sold in glass bottles, which may have some sediment.[8] Ponzu shōyu is traditionally used as a dressing for tataki (lightly grilled, then chopped meat or fish) and also as a dip for nabemono (one-pot dishes) such as shabu-shabu.[9] It is used as a dip for sashimi. In the Kansai region, it is offered as a topping for takoyaki.
History and commercialization
[edit]Although citrus-based ponzu has a longer history, bottled ponzu became widely established as a household seasoning in Japan during the 20th century. In Kōchi Prefecture, yuzu ponzu developed into a commercial product around the 1960s, when declining forestry-related income encouraged local producers to find new uses for the region's abundant yuzu. Major manufacturers subsequently marketed ponzu shōyu for hot-pot dishes, helping expand its consumption beyond its regional origins. Today, ponzu is widely sold throughout Japan, while regional varieties continue to use different Japanese citrus fruits.[10]
See also
[edit]- Japanese words of Dutch origin
- List of condiments
- Toyomansi
Food portal
Media related to Ponzu at Wikimedia Commons
References
[edit]- ↑ "Serious Eats website".
- ↑ "The Spruce Eats".
- ↑ "Japanese Dictionary". www.japandict.com. Retrieved 2026-08-30.
- ↑ 国語大辞典（新装版） [Kokugo Dai Jiten] (in Japanese) (Revised ed.). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 1988.
- ↑ 大辞林 [Daijirin] (in Japanese) (3rd ed.). Tokyo: Sanseidō. 2006. ISBN 4-385-13905-9.
- ↑ 大辞泉 [Daijisen] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Shogakukan. 1995. ISBN 4-09-501211-0.
- ↑ "Serious Eats - Ponzu sauce".
- ↑ "Ponzu (Kikkoman product)".
- ↑ "Just one cookbook".
- ↑ "Yuzu Ponzu ｜ Traditional Foods in Japan : MAFF". www.maff.go.jp. Retrieved 2026-08-30.
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