What is the great cilantro divide?
Cilantro - consumed worldwide, beloved in curries and chilis, and a staple in guacamole - was famously loathed by Julia Child. Many people share the celebrated chef's negative opinion of the herb, which scientists now think might be due to the "soapy" taste some people pick up from the plant. Research has identified two genetic variants linked to perception of coriander, the most common of which is in a gene involved in sensing smells. "It's not a taste of soap, it's really the smell of soap," says neuroscientist Charles Wysocki of the Monell Chemical Senses Center in this WebMD video. Love it or hate it, you can read more about the polarizing herb in this New York Times piece.
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