Re: [CH] Cilantro, soap, etc.

Kristofer Blennow (kristofer@blennow.se)
Tue, 24 Nov 1998 13:58:15 +0100

I wish you hadn't told me it tastes like soap...  ;)  Never thought 
of it, but it is true... there is a slight resemblance.

I never saw fresh coriander/cilantro here, but I do use the dried 
seeds... especially in my homemade-fake india spice mix (cumin, 
coriander, piri-piri, cinnamon, ginger - makes whatever you cook 
taste India...). 

I assume coriander and cilantro is the same herb (Coriandrum 
sativum)?  

Kristofer


> I know this discussion on cilantro has gone on before at least a
> couple of >times.  But I don't recall any discussion about whether
> those who detest >cilantro also detest the substitutes such as
> Papalo (Porophyllum ruderale >ssp. macrocephalum) or Vietnamese
> coriander (Polygonum odoratum) or >Mex coriander (culantro),
> botanically Eryngium foetidum.  Since these are >different species
> from the regular cilantro (Coriandrum sativum), they >might not
> evoke the soapy flavor that cilantro seems to produce.  I am
> >curious about reactions to these substitutes.