Coriander

herb · food · genetics

It has two names. The same plant is called coriander in most of the world, but in the US the leaves are called cilantro. Both names refer to the herb from the Apiaceae family, which also includes parsley and carrots.

Taste is genetic. A gene called OR6A2 controls how your taste buds sense coriander leaves. Some people have a version that makes it taste fresh and lemony, while others have a version that makes it taste like soap or something rotten.

Fresh and citrusy. Most people enjoy coriander's bright, slightly lemony flavor, which makes it popular in salsa, curry, and lots of other dishes around the world.

Not everyone agrees. About 10 percent of people think coriander tastes awful and soapy. This isn't their fault or a lack of taste, it's just how their OR6A2 gene makes them experience the flavor.