Today is "I Hate Coriander Day". Now coriander is a funny herb because some people like it and to other people it tastes awful. The thing is scientists figured out that this is because of genetics. There's apparently just something in human DNA that causes people to taste coriander differently.
Also it's not just coriander either. Everyone has different taste receptors, and what those receptors pick up comes from a mix of genetics and experience. That being said, scientific study says there's two major factors in someone liking certain food aside from genes. The first is smell, as the sense of smell affects your eating habits, sometimes more than taste. The second reason is experience, as people can often be turned off foods they'd otherwise like if it's been poorly prepared for them in the past. On a related note, never get the fried pickles from Zaxby's, especially if you're never had fried pickles before.
[EDITOR’S NOTE: Coriander is a tricky ingredient– not just for the controversial flavor, but for the name as well. In most parts of the world, the name refers to all parts of the plant used in cooking, but in the USA it typically just means the seeds. Dried coriander seeds have a different flavor altogether compared to the leaves and stems, and being seeds, are a spice rather than an herb. We call the greenery of the plant Cilantro!
Also, you know Starfire from the DC Universe? Her given name is Koriand’r. Yep. The alien from Teen Titans is named after Cilantro.]
So this is what my mum shares her birthday with 🤣
I have the “cilantro tastes like soap” gene :( But like, I work around it. On its own? Yeah, might as well drink dishwater. Though if you mix cilantro with other things, like guacamole or these yummy shrimp power bites I get, it adds to the flavor in a really nice way. The shrimp power bites are loaded up with edamame, spinach, broccoli, ginger, scallions, and cilantro—and they all complement each other.