What does coriander smell like?

Including fresh herbs in your kitchen will transform and elevate your recipes. They add a layer of flavor to your dish that you can’t get with any other type of food.

In all kinds of cuisines around the world, many different herbs are used, including parsley, thyme, and oregano. There is an herb that is one of the most popular in the world, although it is also the most controversial: coriander.

Cilantro is a polarizing herb, as some people love it while others despise it. Depending on a single gene, the taste of cilantro varies greatly from person to person.

So what does coriander smell like? For those who adore it, cilantro smells fresh, earthy, and citrusy, with hints of lemon and lime. For those who can’t stand it, cilantro tends to smell bitter, rancid and, believe it or not, soapy.

In this article, you will learn more about what cilantro is, how it smells and why some people find it soapy, different ways to use it, as well as how to store it and know if it has gone bad.

What is coriander?

Cilantro is a leafy herb that grows from the cilantro seed and plant . It is part of the apiaceae family, also known as the parsley family.

Coriander is a bright, vibrant green with long, tender stems bearing clusters of flowery leaves.

Cilantro is often referred to as Mexican or Chinese parsley, and the leaves of the plant may explain why: They look a lot like parsley.

Also, if you are in a country like the UK, you might be surprised not to find coriander anywhere, but fresh coriander leaves.

Although coriander seed tastes quite different from coriander , in other parts of the world it is often referred to as fresh coriander leaves as it grows from coriander seeds.

Cilantro can be used fresh and raw or cooked in a dish.

What does coriander taste like?

Answer the question “what does cilantro taste like?” It’s not as easy as you might think. This is because cilantro is one of the most polarizing foods out there.

Some people love the taste of coriander, while others can’t stand it. However, it’s not just a matter of preference or people being “picky” eaters.

Believe it or not, this vast difference in taste for coriander is rooted in genetics.

Of course, there are people who just don’t like the taste, but for those who despise cilantro, it’s because it tastes just like soap as a result of a specific gene.

Cilantro contains something called aldehydes, which are what create that soapy taste. Aldehydes are also what some people are extremely sensitive to.

People who taste the soap by eating coriander have a specific gene that is especially sensitive to coriander aldehydes and that comes from the olfactory center of each person’s DNA.

Studies have shown that this affects more women than men, and more European people than any other ethnicity.

People from India, Mexico and Asia are said to be less sensitive and have the specific gene. This could be the reason why these countries and continents use coriander a lot in their cuisines.

However, for those who do not have this specific gene and can enjoy cilantro, it tastes delicious. It’s fresh, earthy and citrusy, with hints of lemon and lime.

Fresh coriander is tastier, while cooked cilantro tends to lose a bit of flavor.

What does coriander smell like?

Like the taste, the smell of coriander varies from person to person. 

Those with the aldehyde sensitivity gene will not find cilantro to smell very good. It will smell like soap, but it can also smell extremely bitter and sometimes even rancid.

Did you know that the smell could be the reason cilantro tastes bad to those with the gene?

Because smell is responsible for approximately 80% of what we taste. Thus, those with the specific gene cannot eat or smell coriander without turning up their nose.

However, for those who can enjoy cilantro, it smells great. It is extremely fresh, earthy, with hints of citrus like lemons and limes, and can be a bit spicy at times.

Coriander has a very characteristic smell and cannot be compared to any other.

Where in the world is coriander used?

Coriander is used around the world in many types of cuisine.

It is mainly used in India, Mexico, Thailand, Vietnam, Central America and the Caribbean.

Although this is where it is traditionally found, coriander has become an extremely popular herb and is grown all over the world, making it an affordable ingredient for most people.

Different ways to use cilantro

Since so many parts of the world include coriander in their dishes, it is an herb that can be used in countless ways.

Mexican, Indian and Thai are the cuisines that use it the most.

Let’s break it down like this

mexican

It is almost impossible to have any type of Mexican dish without cilantro . It’s in marinades, sauces, dips, garnishes, and sometimes even drinks.

Cilantro is used raw in traditional salsas and guacamole (which is an avocado-based dip traditionally served with chips).

It is used in marinated meat for tacos, such as carne asada, rotisserie chicken, or al pastor.

You’ll find cilantro in enchilada sauce of all varieties. It will also be in flautas, taquitos or nachos, and in beans and rice.

Cilantro is also often used on top of Mexican dishes as a garnish. As you can see, cilantro is almost everywhere in Mexican cuisine.

India

Like Mexican cuisine, Indian cuisine uses coriander in many of its different dishes.

It can be found in chutneys, which are chunky sauces that resemble a seasoning.

Coriander is used to flavor Garam Masala and all kinds of curry dishes, which are staples in Indian cuisine.

You’ll also find coriander in traditional Indian stews and soups, such as lemon coriander soup, another Indian staple.

Coriander is also often used as a garnish in Indian cuisine. Coriander helps give Indian food its distinctive flavor.

Thai

Thai cuisine also uses coriander to elevate the flavors of its dishes.

It is used in salads, such as Thai papaya salad.

You can find it in multiple soups like Tom Khai Gai, Tom Yum, or spicy curry soup.

It is often included in their traditional noodle dishes, such as pad thai, or pad see ew.

Cilantro is also often used as a garnish for multiple dishes, such as in Mexican and Indian cuisine.

other recipes

Cilantro is a staple of Caribbean cuisine, appearing in salsas, salsones, meats, and much more.

You can find it in black beans or in their star dish, jerk chicken.

In Vietnamese food, coriander is found in many of its classic dishes, such as the Bahn mi sandwich or pho, a traditional noodle soup.

In South America coriander is used in many parts of the continent. In Peru, it is used in ceviche, a shrimp or fish dish.

In Argentina, coriander is often used in empanadas, both as a filling and as a garnish.

You can also find it in sauces like chimichurri or green sauce, both from South America.

As you can see, cilantro is a widely used, but also a versatile herb that has the potential to elevate many different dishes.

Related questions

Let’s dive into a few more details about cilantro.

What are the benefits of coriander?

Coriander is full of antioxidants that are believed to help prevent degenerative diseases such as arthritis, cancer, and diabetes.

It also contains iron and magnesium. Also, it is known to be a natural diuretic and can help combat nausea.

Coriander also has the natural ability to help fight salmonella.

How can I tell if the coriander has gone bad?

Good, healthy, fresh cilantro should be bright green with tender yet crisp stems.

Stems should have minimal “crunch” when cut or torn.

If the stems are soft, mushy or slimy, it is a sign that the cilantro has gone bad. 

If the cilantro leaves start to turn yellow or orange, this is also a sign that the cilantro has gone bad.

If the cilantro starts to wilt, it’s okay to use it, it just won’t have as much flavor.

However, if it has wilted enough that it starts to grow mold or stains, throw it away.

Now, if you like the smell of cilantro, you can also use your nose to determine if cilantro is edible or not.

If it smells musty or stink bug, it’s time to throw it out.

Remember that you should only trust your sense of smell if you are a person who is not sensitive to coriander.

How is coriander stored?

Coriander should always be stored in the refrigerator.  However, there are some tricks that can help it last a little longer:

Try storing the stems in water. When you get home from the store, trim the bottoms of the cilantro much like you would a bouquet of flowers.

Afterwards, put the entire bouquet in a glass of water and keep that glass of water in front of your fridge.

Speaking of fridge placement…keep it towards the front. The back of the fridge is usually the coldest and when the coriander gets cold it starts to wilt.

It will still be edible, but it will slowly lose its flavor.

Whatever you do and store it however you store it, make sure you get it out of a bag.

The bag you bring it home in from the grocery store tends to create moisture, and again, it will cause your cilantro to wilt much more quickly.