Without belaboring the point too much, let me just say that I think iyokan are the best-tasting citrus fruit I’ve ever had the pleasure of eating. They’re very sweet with a strong orange flavor and just sour enough to have a nice bite. Size-wise, they’re a little larger than a navel orange (and therefore significantly larger than a standard Japanese mikan).
They’re the second most popular citrus fruit in this citrus-loving country, and they’re grown primarily right here in Ehime. In fact, the name comes from the old name for Ehime Prefecture – Iyo Province.