The Great Cilantro Debate
Cilantro: Love it or hate it. Image courtesy of Flickr/Michael Lehet
With one of the usual Food & Think writers on a thinking strike, I’ve been asked to plug the brain drain for a while. This works out well, since thinking about food is something I do with great frequency, though not all those thoughts are pleasant.
In fact, not to go negative right off the bat, one of the things I most dislike has recently been in the news: cilantro. This innocuous-seeming herb, featured prominently in many of my favorite Asian and Latin American cuisines, looks deceptively like flat-leaf parsley. But to me—and apparently to a lot of others, as a recent story in the Wall Street Journal describes—it tastes like hairspray. Or soap. Or, my favorite, “pungent grass that may have been urinated upon.”
The haters have formed Facebook groups and Web sites, like IHateCilantro.com, where you can buy T-shirts and pillows that proclaim your displeasure.
Even Julia Child, the original gourmet guru, confessed to despising cilantro (and arugula, though I differ with her there) in a 2002 interview with Larry King.
No other flavor can provoke such an intense negative reaction. You can pelt my taste buds with the hottest habanero, the bitterest broccoli rabe, the funkiest Gorgonzola, and I can take it. But slip so much as one sprig of cilantro into my pico de gallo and, ay dios mío, meal over.
Yet, clearly, since it shows up in so many different places, millions of people around the world enjoy the stuff. Its fans claim it has a fresh taste that provides a nice balance to spicy foods.
It may even provide some health benefits. Scientists have found a compound in cilantro that kills Salmonella bacteria, which could lead to it being used as a food additive to prevent food poisoning, or even as a general disinfectant (which is what it already tastes like).
Other researchers have been looking into whether there is a biological basis to the polarized reactions to cilantro’s flavor. Charles J. Wysocki, a behavioral neuroscientist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center, in Philadelphia, has been studying identical and fraternal twins to determine whether cilantro aversion is a genetic trait. His early results have shown identical twins to be far more likely than fraternal twins to have a similar opinion of cilantro.
My hope is that one day scientists will develop an antidote to cilantro—something I could carry around in my purse and squeeze a few drops on my food to neutralize the hairspray flavor. Then, I could order a bánh mì or bhel puri without fear.
How do you feel about cilantro? Is there any other flavor that makes you gag?
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I love cilantro! It’s a must in my guacamole and egg-and-cheese omelets on a Saturday morning. Cilantro should be used as an accent to foods (like avocado + cilantro = yummy), and not alone or overpoweringly (cilantro x cilantro = why did I just eat/drink that?). For me, eating mint alone is not desirable, but when added to vanilla ice cream it’s great.
I’m wondering why there isn’t a http://www.ilovecilantro.com, or at least a http://www.ilovecilantrousedsparingly.com, established?
Comment by Charles F. — February 20, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
I like cilantro, but only in moderation. I can’t stand green peppers–they overwhelm any other food they’re near. My brother, meanwhile, won’t touch anything with mustard. (He’ll actually run away if you hold the bottle near him–always a fun joke.) His wife quickly discovered that if they ate out at a restaurant and she wanted to eat the leftovers of her meal, her only option was to order something with mustard. Anything else would be vacuumed up by midnight.
Comment by Sarah Zielinski — February 20, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
I am stunned that there are people who don’t like cilantro. You can’t have real Tex-Mex cuisine without it. That’s crazy. Unimaginable really, and I’m not sure I believe it. Next, you’ll be claiming there are people that don’t like strawberries and chocolate, or babies and puppies.
Comment by Barry — February 20, 2009 @ 11:15 pm
I’m one of the cilantro=soap people. Glad to hear I’m not alone. I also can’t stand the taste of ripe mangoes, which taste like black pepper to me.
Comment by KMK — February 21, 2009 @ 1:16 am
I hate cilantro! I always have. I can stand a little in Mexican cooking, but only sparingly. There is just something about that flavor that turns me off! I don’t dislike many foods but this herb just bothers me. Sorry guys!!
Comment by Aimee S. — February 21, 2009 @ 7:21 am
i love cilantro! i could probably put it on anything and i think the flavor would be enhanced, even ice cream.
the one thing i cant not tolerate whatsoever, no matter how small of a proportion it is in is cream cheese. i can eat any other sort of cheese, but not cream cheese. i suppose it tastes like vomit and death to me. ugh!
Comment by paradigmq — February 21, 2009 @ 10:22 am
I think cilantro is a gift from the gods!! On the other hand, I can’t even get near peanut butter, it’s horrible… can’t stand the smell or taste. I do love peanuts though, and peanut butter cookies are tolerable.
And olives – those little rubbery briny salt pellets – ugh!
Comment by JZ — February 21, 2009 @ 3:04 pm
I’m in the “little bit goes a long way” camp. If it’s kept in the background, I can live with it, but there is definitely a point where it overwhelms a food.
Comment by Andy — February 21, 2009 @ 9:06 pm
the first time i ever had cilantro was my first indian food experience. i really enjoyed this food, but there was just something…off. it was the cilantro! it really turns my stomach, but i have been trying to eat it in small doses. i’m also not a huge fan of fresh tarragon. just those two!
Comment by elena — February 21, 2009 @ 11:30 pm
Avocado. I absolutely loathe it. It tastes like dirt and the texture is just slimy and wrong somehow. It’s like an onion gone bad – no food item should feel like that. I know it’s trendy right now and it seems to be in absolutely everything, but I can’t go there. I can tell it’s in a dish even if the amount is miniscule.
*shudder*
Comment by MessyONE — February 22, 2009 @ 9:51 am
I was unaware of this great debate, but chalk another one for cilantro. I use it regularly in barbecue seasoning. In small doses, it can smooth out the roughest of rubs without sacrificing intensity.
Comment by Shane L. — February 22, 2009 @ 7:43 pm
Cilantro is the food of the devil..it should be against the law to serve it in restaurants…perhaps the worst tasting food of all time, cilantro should be banished from the earth. i would rather eat rat droppings than cilantro
Comment by Cilantro Hater — February 22, 2009 @ 11:32 pm
Cilintro is good for nothing except for making people vomit..it is the absolute worst tasting food..all cilantro plants should be destroyed. DOWN WITH CILANTRO.
Comment by Frank Azar — February 22, 2009 @ 11:34 pm
I’ve got that gene–cilantro tastes like dishsoap licked off of a shoe, and oh how it LINGERS. Dry coriander seed doesn’t set me off but the fresh leaves are dreadful. I love the idea of an antidote that would neutralize the taste, as cilantro tends to pop up in all kinds of unexpected places. I don’t like bitter flavors either, but that’s on an entirely different level.
Comment by Dorothy — February 23, 2009 @ 2:49 am
I seem to be one of those rare people that can either take it or leave it…at least in it’s whole form. I love cilantro chutney and cilantro sauce (pureed) on meats though, so perhaps it just depends on the preparation. I really can’t smoked trout…I’ve tried many a time, but just can’t get there with it.
Comment by Laura — February 23, 2009 @ 11:03 am
I looooove cilantro. I get irritated with people who get all up in arms about hating it. It’s not intrinsically bad – some people just have the wrong form of the gene.
Comment by Helen — February 23, 2009 @ 11:21 am
I don’t know that I was ever aware of the taste of cilantro in any dish I’ve ordered, although I know that it most certainly has been in many dishes I’ve enjoyed over the years. Now green peppers… yuck! Those little suckers overwhelm every and anything they get near…. Even the smell makes me gag.
Comment by Jay — February 23, 2009 @ 2:22 pm
[...] with ancho chilies and fresh cilantro (luckily, the cilantro was subtle enough to keep this avowed cilantro-hater from gacking) and topped with a roasted poblano-tomatillo salsa and tortilla [...]
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[...] chipotle pepper in adobe sauce, a scoop of jarred salsa, and a cube of cilantro (Lisa’s nemesis) from the freezer. In retrospect, mashing the chickpeas into something like refried beans might [...]
Pingback by A Week Without Groceries: Eating Down the Fridge | Food & Think — March 12, 2009 @ 12:02 pm
It’s disgusting. Smells like a rancid sock; tastes worse.
Comment by Liz — April 25, 2009 @ 6:16 pm
I hate cilantro! The closest thing I can think of to describe the taste is: take a dirty sock that someone has worn continuosly for 2 weeks, boil it in a pot of water until almost no liquid is left and you have cilatntro–or “Killantro” as I call it.
Comment by Grandzon — April 26, 2009 @ 4:26 pm
Unless the flavor is so subtle that I cannot distinguish the flavor, cilantro makes me gag. The first time that I smelled fresh cilantro I was taken aback, especially since many of my friends are cilantro fans; cilantro smells (and probably tastes) exactly like a stink bug. Honestly, find one and compare: stink bugs are to cilantro what skunks are to skunk cabbage.
Comment by Delatea — April 27, 2009 @ 1:42 pm
I disliked cilentro the first time I tasted it. Someone had given me some seeds and I planted them in a pot on my patio. When I tasted the leaves I thought that surely it couldn`t be edible. But I have since learned to love it and use a lot of it. It is an acquired taste. Chili is one of my husband`s favorite dishes which I don`t much care for. But,I find, that when sprinkled with some sharp cheddar and a generous handfull of cilentro, it`s a whole new thing.
Comment by Patricia Sheriff — April 27, 2009 @ 4:17 pm
I dont understand how anybody can like this foul tasting, obnoxious substance. It destroys the taste of to whatever it is applied. There is a product called “Indoor NO”, which is a spray designed to keep cats off furniture and other places they are not desired. It works because of its noxious odor. It smells EXACTLY the same as cilantro.
Comment by Dwight — May 8, 2009 @ 10:32 am
Yes, definitely an acquired taste…I did not like it at all, initially, to me it has a strange, metallic taste…it still does in large doses. But there is something so fresh about it, plus it will grow just about anywhere. Last winter when making salsa and chili out of ho-hum canned ingredients, the flowerpot of cilantro growing in my south window offered me a pinch of summer.
Comment by S. C. DIXON — May 8, 2009 @ 3:46 pm
I am convinced that there is a genetic component to liking or disliking (aka hating) cilantro. I enjoy it and use it to brighten up various foods, but I never serve to two friends to whom it tastes like dirty socks. The food I can’t bear is fresh garlic on anything (no garlic bread for me!!, but cooked garlic is indispensable in many foods. I’m glad to read all these opinions. It really does seem to be a love/hate substance.
Mary Hosler 5/9/09
Comment by mary hosler — May 9, 2009 @ 3:35 pm
Let’s get real, people! All men (and women) are not created equal….it’s called genetics. Our tongues are made up of a whole lot of tasebuds whose receptors detect only certain “tastes”: sweet, sour, bitter, and salty; these are not evenly distributed, even among close relatives (or twins, for that matter). So what you taste in cilantro is not what everyone perceives; my tongue gives an immediate “ugh!”, so I substitute Italian parsley and a touch of chipotle for the (to me, distasteful) cilantro. Other than the fact my tongue and throat also don’t welcome super-hot peppers, I’m a HUGE fan of south of the border foods. BON APPETIT! fellow Smithsonians.
Comment by Louise Thureen — May 12, 2009 @ 12:30 pm
I loved reading these – you know what’s great about food? The PASSION it evokes! For me, cilantro is like flowers and grass and I adore it to the point where I could eat a salad of just cilantro!
Comment by Jen Rose — May 13, 2009 @ 2:06 am
Now, if you want something to hate, try cilantro’s cousin, PARSLEY, this is the most noxious vomit induce plant. Parsley ruins so many dishes…people are crazy saying cilantro is bad, Parsley is infinitely more disgusting!
i can’t stand when people say oh you won’t even notice it! parsley has ruined one too many meals in my life! i aBSolutely hate it!
Comment by ac gallard — May 25, 2009 @ 9:19 pm
I’m a cilantro hater! I’m a Texan and grew up visiting grandparents in San Antonio, Kyle, Austin and all points in between. I have eaten Mexican food that was so good it could make you cry. You will not get that food at a Mexican food chain. There is only one Mexican restaurant in Baton Rouge that offers that kind of food. It’s been around for nearly 50 years as far as I can remember. They have NEVER served cilantro in anything. The first time I remember having it was in Cozumel about 15 years ago when I wondered what the nasty green stuff was on my nachos.
Comment by Betty — May 26, 2009 @ 7:29 pm
I am in the cilantro=soap crowd, and so is my husband. One of the foods that we both agree is just down right nasty! A teeny tiny little bit can be passable but the food will have an off taste to us. And I’ve found that fresh is way worse than dried. Before I met my husband I thought I was alone in my intense dislike of cilantro. I couldn’t understand why anyone would want to ruin a perfectly good recipe by putting something that tastes like dish soap in it. The first few times I had cilantro I thought that the dishes had not been adequately rinsed! I also can not stand the taste of tonic water. It makes me gag! My husband feels that way about beets.
Comment by Nicca — May 27, 2009 @ 11:24 am
Just go in the bathroom, unwrap a bar of soap and take a big bite — then you will experience what I do when I get cilantro in my mouth. Or use your vegetable peeler and peel soap shavings over your tamales . . . . you’ll get the idea! I don’t like any dish that the herbs take over the flavor of the dish . . . I thought herbs were enhancers . . not monopolizers.
Comment by Jan Paskiewicz — May 29, 2009 @ 8:40 am
I was an advisor to Vietnamese army units for 2 years & ate a lot of vietnamese food. There was one flavor I never identified but thought was great. After starting to eat mexican food, I found that same flavor was a part of mexican cooking. Yes, cilantro, that great accent to both cuisines.
Comment by al demarest — June 24, 2009 @ 4:00 pm
To me, cilantro tastes/smells like Tom cat pee. People have genes that make certain items taste/no taste. For example, with PTC (Phenylthiocarbamide) paper, 7/10 persons taste bitter, 3/10 taste nothing. (I taste nothing.) I believe a genetic trait like this is involved in the nasty/great taste debate with Cilantro.
Comment by kathy hislop — July 1, 2009 @ 1:54 pm
Tastes like I licked out an ashtray…GAG. When I go to restaurants I tell the servers that I’m allergic to cilantro; they usually respond better to that than “I just don’t like it.”
Comment by jennie grist — July 4, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
I visited my sister who lives right outside DC. She took me to a Thia diner she always goes to. I got what she recommended, but…. after a few bites, as well as as slurp of soup, I asked her how her dinner was. She said it was great, I replied with, maybe my dishes weren’t washed. She laughed, and said, no, it’s the cilantro, you are about 1 in ten who thinks it tastes like soap. She said it’s not the first time she has had friends say about the same thing.
Comment by Bill — July 22, 2009 @ 8:29 pm
Oh, I see that I’m not crazy!! I once ordered a chicken and rice dish in Costa Rica and it came out littered with those little green flecks!! I just set it down on the ground (outdoor beach diner) for the feral cats to eat. …. Tried the ihatecilantro website but came up with a virus warning… would love to see what they have there!
Comment by Tracy — August 16, 2009 @ 7:15 pm
I am a fellow cilantro hater, and I am convinced it’s genetic. I can force myself to eat and tolerate any other food that I dislike, but not cilantro. It is the kryptonite to this foodie. I loved the analogy to the stink bug – it’s perfect! The slightest bit of cilantro in my food will give me the same sensation as if I stuck a 9-volt battery to my tongue. The strange thing is that I love to use freshly ground coriander seeds in my marinades.
Comment by Frickle — August 18, 2009 @ 9:33 am
Cilantro is horrible. HONESTLY thought the cat had peed ((somehow)) onto the leaves that I put into the tacos I made for dinner. Then a friend made a delish salsa and freaked out because she forgot to add the cilantro. Brought it back after “fixing” and the cat pee taste was back! Eureka, realized that cats dont going around peeing on cilantro as a habit but rather the stuff just -tastes- like that. It wasnt until I sat and debated with said friend over it that I realized it was just me tasting the grassy pee.
Comment by Lindsey — August 19, 2009 @ 7:53 am
[...] 1. Stuffed. The latest issue of Bon Appetit has a great recipe for this, which I adapted slightly by adding a layer of Brie cheese at the top and bottom of the scooped-out tomato. It’s delicious, and surprisingly easy. (Of course, we know some of you will want to skip the cilantro!) [...]
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Cilantro is abhorrent to me. It tastes of soap, or astringent. Even the tiniest amount can kill my appetite. Sometimes just the smell (which also has a very soapy or astringent aroma) is overpowering.
Mangoes, too, are a flavor I really can’t stand. Which surprises nearly everyone I talk to. No one can believe that I hate mango. But to me, it tastes like pine needles. Or sometimes it tastes like I imagine dirty gym socks would taste. Ew. And even a little bit of mango ruins whatever it’s in. Which is unfortunate, since it’s one of my boyfriend’s favorite flavors.
Comment by Niirah — September 28, 2009 @ 12:46 am
I not only hate the taste of cilantro, but I am allergic to it. So is my mother. While I don’t know it is true or not, I read once that 15% of the world’s population is allergic to cilantro and that those who are think it tastes like soap; those who are not allergic to it think it tastes fresh and clean. May be some link.
Comment by Tony — October 6, 2009 @ 12:50 pm
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