Cilantro (aka the leaves of the coriander plant) is a tasty herb to most people. A pleasing combination of flavors reminiscent of parsley and citrus, the herb is a common ingredient in many cuisines around the world. However, some people find cilantro revolting, including, famously, the chef Julia Child. Of course some of this dislike may come down to simple preference, but for those cilantro-haters for whom the plant tastes like soap, the issue is genetic. These people have a variation in a group of olfactory-receptor genes that allows them to strongly perceive the soapy-flavored aldehydes in cilantro leaves. This genetic quirk is usually only found in a small percent of the population, though it varies geographically. Interestingly, places where cilantro is especially popular, such as Central America and India, have fewer people with these genes, which might explain how the herb was able to become such a mainstay in those regions. East Asians have the highest incidence of this variation, with some studies showing that nearly 20% of the population experiences soapy-tasting cilantro.

We are all humans, some of us are just lucky enough to enjoy the loveliness that is cilantro!

Wayne2020 Tell us how you really feel! Lol

Just wanted to let you know that to those of us that cannot eat Cilantro (and there are many thousands of us), please do not shut us out…
In all seriousness, there are many great meals out there that I would like to sample but unfortunately cannot get past the cilantro flavoring.
The real kicker is that I thoroughly enjoy crushed coriander (the seed from the cilantro).
Thanks for letting me vent…
Oh, btw, the reason I was reading this thread was because I was a wedding photographer during the days of film only. The stress you all express in this thread is identical to the stress I felt working for the bride and groom in those days. I feel your pain there.
cheers!!

TexLaw life is too short to have to deal with non cilantro lovers. I would cycle those ‘friends’ out and surround yourself with culinary lovers of cilantro!

Heap wrong attitude and I hope to never eat one of your SillyAntro meals – oopps – meant to say seal-antro, er I mean cilantro.
That has to be by far the nastiest herb on either side of the Mississippi!! And the attitude restaurants have about not serving the dish without the putrid cilantro is just as unfathomable… Thank goodness there are people out there like TexLaw who are considerate of the people who can savor the cooking without the cilantro. For many of us, the only ones who force cilantro on the unsuspecting are those trying to mask imperfections in their cooking. Too salty? Add more cilantro. No flavor? Add more cilantro to give it some type of flavor. Not sure how this will be appreciated? Well there are folks who like the flavor of that rotten herb so just add more to hide all your imperfections in your cooking. Not sure if this is truly TexMex authentic? Heck, just add more cilantro and nobody will know the difference. Except those that cant stand it. Like trying to reswallow your acid reflux… yuppers, tasty indeed, huh?
Doubt this will be allowed to be published in this thread by here’s hoping!!

I don’t use it much, so it’s not a big deal. However, when I do, it’s usually pretty easy to have a no-cilantro option. Just add the cilantro last, and reserve some of whatever you are making before adding the cilantro.