Comments on: I Don’t Like Cilantro

By: Flasshe

Flasshe — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:56:06 +0000

I believe this is the first time I’ve ever seen “jaunty” used as an adjective for “taste”. Is that from a song?

I do like the term “cilantro-laced” – how appropo.

By: Paula

Paula — Mon, 19 Sep 2005 16:53:41 +0000

I could eat cilantro-laced food daily and never tire of its jaunty taste. But since we already disagree on peanut butter, I’m not surprised at this turn of events.

By: Herb

Herb — Thu, 15 Sep 2005 04:27:16 +0000

Flasshe – Why do you insist on speaking out against me? What have I ever done to you? (Okay, there was that time I caused you to break out in an embarrassing rash right before that hot date – but I was only following orders, and it was my first year on the job.) You know, I’m probably oversensitive here – but dammit, devils have feelings too – and I just don’t like it when people diss them – especially when they call me out by name like that.

By: infK

infK — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 20:47:01 +0000

I’ve always said coriander/cilantro tastes like air freshener and should be dangling from your car’s rear view mirror if it has to exist at all. But my wife loves it. In fact, until today I thought “coriander” was just the Aussie word for “cilantro” – but in reading the above comments I finally looked it up and now realize she’s just been using one term for both, and ridiculing Americans who are actually using the terms correctly…. as for a genetic basis, I also happen to be one of those “super tasters” who finds most bitter things difficult to even swallow much less enjoy – this includes coffee and many vegetables.

I’ll also comment here (re: Editrix) that one of the most insightful aphorisms about relationships I’ve ever heard is that it’s not as important that you like the same things, as it is that you HATE the same things…

By: 2fs

2fs — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 20:36:33 +0000

My stepdad, who loves all kinds of food, also hates cilantro. It tastes like soap to him. Me, I love it! No cilantro late-birthday cake for you, Rog!

By: Editrix

Editrix — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 14:35:00 +0000

I’d always heard that aversion to cilantro was a genetic trait — it either tastes fresh, bright, and slightly citrusy to you or it tastes like Lemon Fresh Joy. After some Sunday morning research, I can’t find any information that goes much beyond conjecture about dislike for the herb stemming (ha!) from genetic predisposition; a few sites posit that it’s a food allergy, though that seems less likely to me.

I’m just grateful that Doug enjoys it as much as I do. I always used to think that I couldn’t be seriously involved with a non-carnivore, but since we’ve been together, I actually think it would be harder to live and cook with someone who hated garlic, onions, mushrooms, cilantro, and the like.

By: Flasshe

Flasshe — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 02:41:14 +0000

Yeah Janet, coriander is okay. Strange, since it’s a different form of the same thing. I use it in Indian cooking. And I do like parsley, which is so similar. I think my local Safeway refers to cilantro as aka Chinese Parsley.

By: Janet

Janet — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 01:53:17 +0000

I don't really like cilantro either. I grow the damn stuff in my herb garden, because as a bit of a foodie I feel I oughta enjoy it and use it in my recipes. It's all over Mexican and Vietnamese food, two of my twenty-five favorite cuisines. But I keep cutting parsley to substitute for cilantro, and let the cilantro go to seed (happily, I do enjoy coriander, so it doesn't go to waste, just to seed). So you got support on this, Rog.

By: Sue

Sue — Sun, 11 Sep 2005 00:52:34 +0000

FWIW, Joe doesn’t like cilantro either. I personally love it. Cute illustration, though!