Cilantro is the leaf and coriander is the seed. The leaves and the seeds have citrus overtones. We like the crunchy texture. Cilantro, as a cooling herb, pairs well with hot spicy dishes.

Cilantro Phobia

To some people, cilantro tastes 'soapy' or 'buggy'. Harold McGee, in this NY Times article, "Cilantro Haters, It's Not Your Fault," writes that the Greek origin of the word "coriander" means bedbug. To the ancient Greeks, cilantro smelled like "bug infested clothes." Flavor chemists have identified the source of the revulsion to the presence of aldehydes similar to those found in soaps and certain insects. Crushing the leaves releases enzymes that break down aldehydes and destroy the 'soapy' or 'buggy' odor of cilantro. We recommend it crushed in a motar and pestle, chopped or served as a pesto.

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