Coriander

/ˌkɒriˈændə/ noun

Definition

An herb whose fresh leaves and dried seeds are used to flavor food. In some places, the leaves are called cilantro, especially in American English.

Etymology

From Old French *coriandre*, from Latin *coriandrum*, from Greek *koriannon* or *koriandron*. The plant has been used since ancient times in cooking and medicine.

Kelly Says

The same plant has a naming split: in many English varieties, 'coriander' is the whole plant, but in American English 'cilantro' is the leaves and 'coriander' is the seeds. A small part of the population finds coriander tastes like soap due to a genetic difference in smell receptors. So when people fight over coriander in recipes, their noses may literally be wired differently.

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