Return of "interesting" science facts: Cilantro

Coriander and cilantro come from different parts of the same plant: Coriandrum sativum.

Julia Child said of cilantro: "I just can't stand it. It tastes like dirt." In fact, a large segment of the population perceives the taste of cilantro differently due to genetic factors. For these people, the "normal" or "non-soapy" taste can be approximated by sprinkling a bit of ground coriander over fresh parsley and subsitute for the offending herb.