Coriander

When talking about fresh coriander leaf, there are two types of people: people who love it and people who hate it. Considering it is one of the most consumed fresh herbs in the world, the people who dislike it appear to be in the minority! Native to the Middle East, this annual herb has been cultivated for centuries in Southeast Asia and Latin America, and is well represented in these regions’ cuisines. Coriander has had less success being adopted into the European or North American culinary traditions–references to fresh coriander as having a “soapy” taste come mainly from this camp. Still, many Westerners enjoy the fresh aroma and characteristic flavor that coriander brings to food.