Yuzu Chūhai

The Yuzu Chūhai is a quintessential modern Japanese cocktail celebrated for its bright, citrusy flavor and effervescent character. It combines the clean taste of shōchū, a traditional Japanese distilled spirit, with the unique aromatic tartness of yuzu, a Japanese citrus fruit. Topped with sparkling soda water, it becomes an incredibly refreshing and easy-to-drink highball, perfect for any time of day.
Yuzu Chūhai

Preparation

Preparation time: 3 minutes

Preparation time
Difficulty

Drink Classification

The Yuzu Chūhai is a type of Japanese highball cocktail. It falls into the broader category of "sours" due to the citrus element, but its service in a tall glass with soda water firmly places it in the highball family. It is a popular and casual drink in Japan.

Serving

Serve this light and refreshing cocktail very cold in a tall, chilled highball glass filled with ice. Its alcohol content is relatively mild, comparable to a strong beer or a glass of wine.
Serving size
Approx. 240-300 ml / 8-10 oz
Alcohol content
Approx. 8-12% ABV
Alcohol strength
Serving temperature
Cold
Glass type
Highball or Collins Glass
Glass treatment
Chilled

Backstory

The chūhai emerged in post-war Japan as a simple and affordable highball made with shōchū and carbonated water. Over time, fruit juices and syrups were added for flavor, with citrus versions becoming immensely popular. The yuzu variation leverages one of Japan's most iconic and aromatic fruits, elevating the simple highball into a more fragrant and sophisticated, yet still accessible, drink.
Origin
Japan, late 20th century. While the basic chūhai dates back to the mid-20th century, the popularization of specific fruit flavors like yuzu grew in subsequent decades, especially with the rise of izakaya (Japanese pub) culture.

Yuzu Chūhai

The original Japanese name is 柚子チューハイ (Yuzu Chūhai). It is often simply called a Yuzu Sour or spelled phonetically as Chu-Hi in Western bars. Chūhai is a portmanteau of "shōchū highball," indicating its core ingredients.
Original name
柚子チューハイ
Alternative names
  • Yuzu Sour
  • Yuzu Chu-Hi

Characteristics overview

This cocktail is defined by its bright, floral citrus aroma and tart yuzu flavor, balanced by a hint of sweetness and the clean taste of shōchū. Its light, bubbly texture and crisp finish make it exceptionally refreshing.
Flavor
Citrusy, Tart, Bright, Lightly Sweet, Clean
Aroma
Floral, Aromatic Citrus, Zesty
Taste balance
Sour, Sweet
Aftertaste
Clean, Crisp, Short
Fizziness
Bubbly, Effervescent, Sparkling
Color appearance
Pale Yellow, Cloudy, Translucent
Texture
Light, Crisp, Thin
Seasonality
Refreshing, Summery, All-season

Flavor intensity & Experience

The flavor is dominated by a bright fruitiness and prominent sourness from the yuzu, with a mild sweetness and low alcohol presence. The high carbonation keeps the palate feeling fresh and clean.
Sweetness
Saltiness
Sourness
Bitterness
Spiciness
Fruitiness
Creaminess
Carbonation

Ingredients

You will need shōchū (or vodka), yuzu juice, a bit of simple syrup for balance, and chilled soda water. The quality of the yuzu juice is key to the final taste.
  • Shōchū (Honkaku or Mugi)60 ml / 2 oz
    A clean, neutral shōchū like a Mugi (barley) shōchū works best. Vodka can be substituted.
  • Yuzu Juice30 ml / 1 oz
    Fresh is best, but high-quality bottled 100% yuzu juice is excellent.
  • Simple Syrup15 ml / 0.5 oz
    Adjust quantity to taste, depending on the sweetness of your yuzu juice.
  • Soda Water90-120 ml / 3-4 oz (to top)
    Must be well chilled to maintain fizziness.

Ice type

  • Cubed

Mixing equipments

This drink can be built directly in the glass, but shaking the base ingredients first ensures they are well-chilled and combined. A jigger and bar spoon are standard tools needed.
  • Cocktail shaker for mixing the base
  • Jigger for measuring
  • Bar spoon for a gentle stir

Instructions

The method is simple: shake the shōchū, yuzu juice, and syrup with ice, strain into an ice-filled highball glass, and top with soda water. A quick stir and a garnish complete the drink.
1. Fill a highball glass with ice cubes to chill it.
2. Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add the shōchū, yuzu juice, and simple syrup.
3. Shake well for about 10-12 seconds until the outside of the shaker is frosty.
4. Strain the mixture into the ice-filled highball glass.
5. Top with chilled soda water.
6. Give a gentle stir with a bar spoon to combine, being careful not to dissipate the carbonation.
7. Garnish with a fresh yuzu peel.

Garnishing

A simple garnish of yuzu peel adds a wonderful aromatic dimension to the drink. A lemon wheel can be used if yuzu is unavailable.
  • Yuzu peel, expressed over the drink to release its oils and then dropped in.
  • A thin yuzu or lemon wheel as an alternative.

Dietary Information

This drink is naturally free from common allergens like gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, and nuts. It is suitable for both vegan and vegetarian diets and contains no caffeine.
✓ Contains alcohol
✓ Caffeine-free
✓ Dairy-free
✓ Egg-free
✓ Soy-free
✓ Nut-free
✓ Gluten-free
✓ Vegan-friendly
✓ Vegetarian-friendly

Nutrition information

This is a relatively low-calorie cocktail, with most of its carbohydrates and sugar coming from the fruit juice and simple syrup. The overall nutritional impact is modest for a single serving.
Calories
Averagely 140-160 kcal / 585-670 kJ
Calories level
Carbohydrates
Approx. 10 g
Carbohydrate level
Sugar
Approx. 9 g
Sugar level

Occasions

This drink is exceptionally versatile, perfect for warm summer days, casual social gatherings, and happy hour. Its clean profile also makes it an excellent companion to a wide range of Japanese and Asian dishes.
  • Summer Parties
  • Casual Get-togethers
  • Happy Hour
  • Pairing with Food
  • Pre-dinner Drink

Pairing suggestions

The Yuzu Chūhai is a fantastic food-pairing drink, especially with Japanese cuisine. Its acidity and bubbles cut through the richness of fried foods like tempura and karaage, while its clean profile complements the delicate flavors of sushi and sashimi. It's also a perfect match for salty izakaya-style snacks.
  • Yakitori (grilled skewers)
  • Sushi and Sashimi
  • Tempura
  • Karaage (Japanese fried chicken)
  • Edamame and other salty snacks

Yuzu Chūhai: The Quintessential Japanese Refresher

The Yuzu Chūhai is a supremely refreshing and easy-to-make Japanese highball. Its appeal lies in its simplicity and the unique, aromatic flavor of the yuzu fruit, which provides a vibrant tartness that is both invigorating and delicious. This cocktail offers a clean, crisp, and bubbly experience, making it a perfect choice for casual sipping, especially during warmer months or alongside a meal. It's an accessible introduction to the world of Japanese cocktails and the versatile spirit of shōchū.

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