Last week in class, the topic of cilantro (and why some people hate, hate, hate it) was raised. Well, the
NY Times heard us pondering the question.
Here is an article that might explain why it is beloved in some cultures and hated among some people in other cultures. Do you have any other ingredients that you despise because of what the smell reminds you of (for me, it is lavender in food as I feel like I'm eating perfume)?
I for one love lavender as a scent since there was always a lavender bush outside my window during the summer... but I usually can't stand the smell of fish sauce, even though I'm a huge fan of it in Thai food.
ReplyDeleteI'm still getting over my fish-phobia and pungent, fermented fish sauce is far down on the list of things I'm expecting to get used to.
A few of my friends from back home are "cilantrophobes", which I always found really annoying when we were trying to cook dinner together, and simply incomprehensible at other times. I love Spanish and Asian food, and just about everything else I've ever had with cilantro in it. I thought that the idea of it being partially a conditioned response rather than a solely genetic thing was pretty interesting; it ties back into the essay we read about ethnic/national spice profiles. The fact that we like flavors we're used to and distrust things that are new makes sense as a survival mechanism and is easily observable in real life, but the revulsion some people have for cilantro specifically seems to go beyond usual preference or aversion. This could be one of those things that goes on behind the scenes in your brain, as it were; unfamiliar chemicals in the cilantro triggering a disgust reaction way beyond how strong the taste actually is (for the purpose of keeping you healthy, of course).
ReplyDeleteI've always had a big problem getting over the smell and particularly the flavor of pine nuts. I can deal with them in pesto because the garlic and basil usually overpower that strong (at least for me) flavor, although I prefer making my pesto with sunflower seeds, or walnuts.
ReplyDeleteHowever, anytime I encounter them whole, especially when they are toasted, in pasta or salad, I still tend to push them off to the side of my plate.
I have never had a problem with cilantro, in fact I prefer it in any Latin-American dish. It was only until last year that I realized that cilantro's aroma is very similar to that of a squished stink bug. I still eat cilantro, but that is about the only thing I can think of whenever I smell it, stinkbugs.
ReplyDelete~Wesley Sayler
I really don't like tuna fish, because, quite honestly, it smells like fish. The smell is so strong that I can't seem to get past it, even though many in my family love tuna salad, sandwiches, and melts.
ReplyDeleteActually, Korean has many ingredients which have really unique smell such as kimchi, choengokjang, which has the strongest taste one among miso, and etc. Sometimes, the flavor is too strong even Korean. However, as for me, I think goat cheese has stronger flavor than Korean miso. I cannot enjoy goat cheese. When I tasted it at first, I thought it’s decayed food because it just tasted like decayed cheese and the smell also too strong. Moreover, I don’t like the mealy texture as well. I know that many people enjoy this cheese with dishes and appetizers so I tried to taste it several times. But it didn’t work. I don’t think that I am going to like it. It reminds me top water flavor with stinky smell.
ReplyDeleteI fully agree with the statement about cilantro having a soapy taste. I remember the first few times I experienced it, that was the exact thing I compared it to. However, after realizing that the amount of cilantro used is equally as important as the flavor profile, I began to use it in my own cooking. For me, as long as the dish is not over-seasoned with it, I enjoy cilantro.
ReplyDeleteAdam Bechard
I thoroughly enjoy cooking with cilantro. Especially when you're cooking Latin American dishes, it's almost always utilized. In Mexican cuisine, you can't have delicious salsa or guacamole without it. It definitely heightens the flavor profile. Once you omit it from your recipe, in my opinion, the power of the flavors deplete. For instance, I regularly cook a Peruvian dish called "Lomo Saltado." It's basically soy sauce-marinated and sauteed beef strips with red onions, tomatoes, french fries, and yes, cilantro. Lomo Saltado isn't Lomo Saltado without cilantro. You will taste the difference. I most definitely do.
ReplyDeleteBut as far as any aversions to certain foods are concerned, I recently discovered (after a little investigating!)that I'm allergic to rosemary. So, at the risk of divulging in the obvious, I will not go near rosemary nor will I eat it.
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I am also a cilantro-hater. I used to be nauseated by the taste and smell of yogurt but I was determined to eat it for it's health purposes. So everyday I had a little bit of yogurt and eventually it began to grow on me. Now, I absolutely love it! I think I will try the same procedure with cilantro and see what happens. Because passing up guacamole is just a sin! It seemed to have worked for the last doctor mentioned in the article, I will be interested to see if it works for me as well.
ReplyDeleteI really hate the smell of fermented tofu. It is used a lot in Chinese cuisine and both my parents really love the taste of it but I can not seem to get over the smell. For me the enjoyment of a dish is not only in the taste but also the smell and appearance.
ReplyDeleteRex
Cilantro to me is a delicious additive to many simple recipes. However, my Asian background may contribute to this opinion. When smelling cilantro nothing like bedbugs or lotion come to mind. I do believe though that certain flavors when eaten or smelled alone may seem different to other people then they do to me. I loved what Dr. Gottfried did to change his unenjoyment of cilantro into an acceptance and even liking of it. I personally disagree with the taste of celery and am planning on trying what he did with this product. Hopefully I can enjoy celery just like he does now with cilantro!
ReplyDeleteCilantro is delicious, but then again i am a non-taster so what do i know? obviously different flavors and aromas are different to different people, but i fail to understand how cilantro could remind someone of bugs. the only ingredient i dispise is the wide use of tofu, but that's only because it lacks flavor and has the consistency of tender styrofoam. other then that it's not so bad.
ReplyDelete-Scott Johnson
When I was younger, sometimes when my mom would make fajitas she would marinate them with beer. Generally I don't have a problem with this but for some reason the flavor of the beer dominated the meat. I'm not sure if it wasn't cooked well enough or if simply too much was used but I couldn't stand that my fajitas, which I expected to taste like fajitas, were so overpowered with the taste of beer. I was always able to tell right away whether she had used beer to marinate or not.
ReplyDeletePatrick Sanchez
I am not a fan of cilantro myself, however I do not find the taste resembling that of hand lotion or soap. I don't necessarily agree with the Japanese study where crushing the leaves will weaken the aroma of the herb. I read somewhere that if you try to consume something 7 times in a row that you find undesirable foods desirable after the 7th time. I've actually tested it and it did not work. I am able to taste something and immediately know whether it has cilantro in it or not, therefore I strongly believe that I will never grow accustomed to cilantro.
ReplyDeleteSW766639
I too used to be a cilantro hater. But I was determined that this was just a phase and I needed to continue to give this herb a try until I liked it. I also found that the leaves usually located in the center top portion of the plant are shaped a bit differently and have a bitter and more profound taste. If you remove these leaves then I found cilantro to be palatable. I now eat cilantro and voluntarily cook with it. The only other food I have had a dislike for is cauliflower. which I think is quite unusual because it has such a mild flavor. I have no idea what could cause this food preference..and I could not find a cauliflower haters group to join so I don't think this is a commonly disliked food. What could cause this. Maybe it is a food memory and not a related taste issue. Jennifer Goodman
ReplyDeleteCilantro is pretty neutral to me, I don’t hate it but I don’t love it. I don’t think it smells like bedbugs although I wouldn’t know what bedbugs smell like and I don’t think it tastes like soap. It reminds me of grass, so when I’m eating a dish with a lot of cilantro in it I think of grass. For me I don’t like the smell or taste of cranberries. I try to stay far away from the cranberry sauce at the Thanksgiving table.
ReplyDeleteTR745792
I have always loved cilantro, and as I understand it some people just don't like it because they didn't grow up eating it. My chef for product knowledge made a joke about the people that thought it reminded them of soap were the ones who used to get their mouth washed out with soap, and that's why they didn't like it.
ReplyDeleteTaking a whiff, I understand how someone could think it does smell a little like soap, but I don't understand when they taste it. For me, it just adds a bit of freshness to a dish.
- ct823776
Immediately green olives come to mind when you ask for a smell you despise. Ever since i was little I could not stand the smell or taste of a green olive. I cant really compare the smell to anything else but maybe rubbing alcohol or a paint thiner. It instantly burns my nostrils and i lose my appetite completely. My first Week here at the Culinary Institute i was in Banquets and there was a slice of bread with a tapenade on it. Sadly i didn't know what that was exactly so i took a giant bite only to find out it was full of green olives. That smell that i hate with a passion came into my mind and i felt like throwing up. It ruined the rest of my meal.
ReplyDelete-kyle buttram
When I was in elementary school there were always designated tables for people who brought items that had peanuts in them, but unfortunately for me there were none designated to those who brought tuna sandwiches. I could feel my stomach cringe every time a classmate would slowly lift out a tuna salad sandwich out of their paper brown bag. My senses raise to levels of a bloodhound whenever it's in the same vicinity to me. Unfortunately for me, I don't mind the taste of tuna salad - if I plug my nose or have a really bad cold. But once the smell enters my sinus' I have to politely excuse myself from the room. This is one of those associations that I have a feeling I will never be able to shake because it began at such a young age. Luckily for me I was able to expand my childhood food variety by avoiding such typical foods; too bad others haven't and the smell still lingers in my stomach forever.
ReplyDelete-Sean Dyer
I believe cilantro is an acquired taste. People who are not exposed to it may not enjoy it. I love cilantro. I think it has a wonderderful yet unique taste and aroma. Anytime I eat a fresh taco loaded with homemade hot sauce, lime juice, steak, onions, and cilantro I can always tell the cilantro is there. It has a flavor that stands out.
ReplyDeleteI rather enjoy cilantro, so it was interesting to discover that people who dislike it may associate that smell with the same substance found in soaps or bugs. Although there is not a particular ingredient that I dislike the smell of, I hate the smell of bubble or fruity gum. One whiff causes my gag relfex to commence. I absolutely detest it. I rarely, about never, chew gum of any kind, but no singular smell bothers me more than the pungent aroma of fake fruit flavor, sugar packed gum. I'm not even sure at what point I began to dislike the smell. If I had to pinpoint a time though, I believe it was on a road trip when I was young. I was about five and the family was driving up north for a trip. My cousin fell asleep on my shoulder. She had been chomping away on a piece of gum and then fell asleep on me releasing that gum onto my shoulder. I distinctly remember being disgusted and ever since that instance I don’t recall ever chewing gum again and having a strong aversion to the smell. As I have aged I’ve been better at tolerating the smell but it still has the ability to turn my stomach at times. As the article stated, linking food smells to other substances can cause aversions, and I’ve never thought about it that way. To think my distaste for bubble gum can be associated with this one occurrence many years ago is fascinating.
ReplyDeleteI must say its so sad to think so many people dont like cilantro.It is one of my many loves. In no way does it remind me of a bedbug smell. Its a little insulting for people to compare it to bedbugs. I have grown up on it, my mother has always incorporated it in differnt dishes. Am sorry to thoes who cant help but hate it, but i cant help but love it. People should respects others likes and dislikes.
ReplyDelete- Estella Lopez
Next to rosemary, cilantro would have to be my favorite herb due to how wonderfully aromatic and flavorful it is. To each his own however, I cannot imagine how the smell of cilantro can be compared to bedbugs. Exactly who derived that bug-infested bedclothes smell like cilantro? With “bedbugs” being microscopic, how can one say that they smell and furthermore, as cilantro? Anyhow, I am by no means a cilantrophobe. I am Mexican and Dominican and the herb is always readily available in my home, and is always picked up while grocery shopping. It is quite difficult to explain, but I really like the taste. I can simply take a few leaves and layer it in any ordinary sandwich, add it to a marinade, or mix some into a salsa! Now, one ingredient that I absolutely dislike, is pickled ginger. Likewise, I feel as though I am eating something drenched in perfume. Keep it away from my sushi and wasabi paste!
ReplyDeleteHector Manon
Cilantro is a taste I didn't like when I was younger but I almost need to show restraint with now. It is essentially the bridge between savory and sweet. Although I don't find most foods revolting, the smell of breakfast sausage makes me feel sick to the stomach. It smells so unnatural and soaked in preservatives. Part of my aversion, I think, has to do with motionsickness I experienced after an all-you-can eat buffet on a Cardinal cruise ship.
ReplyDeletesalsa verde!!!! is my only comment for those who hate it......
ReplyDeletebut i do believe everyone has the right to have there preferences and aversions to food. I for one do not like Rose extract in my food. I feel i bite a rose and the texture is off, or start to feel like i either bite a candle or drank perfume.
For me, cilantro is one of the most amazing herb on the planet. I think the reason most people don't like it because they just experience it as a garnish on the top of their meal. Like other herbs, cilantro has strong, greeny and earthy flovor in it. If you eat it fresh alone, you may not like it. However, if you use it correctly like a herb, you will find out that you have been missed a huge flavor in your life. Trust me. I used to hatemustard and wasabi so bad, but when I understand what it use for and how can I use it. I now fall in love with those two geat condiment.
ReplyDeleteThitid Tassanakajohn
Personally, I love cilantro and I find it alluring to my sense of smell. WHile some people find cilantro to be a bit overbearing and not as appealing, I have used it in various foods I have prepared. A little cilantro in scrambled with some onion, jalepeno, and cheese is for a me a delightful palate satisfier. I have taken cilantro and included it in a fruit medley which consisted of cantaloupe, dew melon, grapes, jalepeno, and onion and found that to be quite satisfying especially when chilled.
ReplyDeleteCilantro adds flavor that is unlike any other flavor I know of and so far anything I have had which had cilantro I have truly enjoyed.
I'm used to all kinds of pungent herbs or spices since i'm Thai,so I definately have no problem with Cilantro.Actually,I love Cilantro because it gives you bright and vibrant taste to the dish.On the other hand ,I've always had a big problem getting over the smell of Camembert de Normandy cheese.it makes me nausea just by looking at it.
ReplyDeleteMinwoo LEE said...
ReplyDeleteWhen I was young, I always picked them out of my dish. It smelled disgusting for me and it reminded me a dead body. Until I turned to 2o, I had never even try to eat again. However, as everything is changed, I started not to feel anymore disgusting taste with it. Now, I do not love them to eat but at least I do not pick them out of my dish. Isn't it enough?
Cilantro is the magic vegetable to me becuase it enhances the food to be flavorful. I use a lot in Thai food. Not to mention eating Cilantro itself, it should be added in the food. It gives the uniqe flavor for dishes. Some people may judge the food from eating it but some of the food taste so good when combine with other food. That's why we are in culinary school. We learn how to use ingredients and turn them into great menus.
ReplyDeleteFish sauce is one thing that smell bad when eating it itself but it turns a normal dish into great Thai dish when I put it while cooking Thai food.
Patty S.
I enjoy cilantro in moderation. As for the soap taste I can agree, if the leaves are left whole I find the taste to be similar to Ivory soap. I also find that different ethnic cuisines use cilantro differently: Latin American dishes the recipe calls for the chopping of the herb, while Asian cuisines leave the leaf whole. When the herb is chopped it mixes with the dish better reducing the overwhelming taste of cilantro.
ReplyDeleteAlthough I enjoy cilantro in moderation there are some foods I refuse to eat. Such as peas and bananas. It's all about the texture, the mushy center of peas and bananas is unappetizing. Peas are easy to pick-out of dishes but bananas are much harder. Bananas tend to be incorporated into fruit drinks and desserts making it much harder to detect, until it's too late!
I really don't like gin. To me, its like I'm drinking a Christmas tree. I know that Gin is made from juniper berries and that's what gives it that unique flavor. It has slowly been growing on me over the years. However, I think I will always pick a dirty vodka martini over one with gin.
ReplyDeleteBret Lunsford 834521
For me, I can't, at all, stand Cilantro. For my tastes, whenever it is in a food, it overpowers all the other flavors and all I taste is cilantro.. yuk!
ReplyDeleteAnother ingredient is Coconut. Myself, being a pastry chef, tends to run into coconut more than I would like. Again, the flavor and texture of coconut seems to overpower everything it's paired with.
I've taught a few classes on cooking/ baking principles and techniques and whenever my students would make something with either coconut or cilantro and I had to taste it I would say "If I don't like it, then you made it perfectly."
Growing up in the Carribbean, using fresh herbs and spices is what we do best. The flavor and aroma of cilantro is one that i find a bit pungent but refreshing. It tends to cut the thickness of fats in any dish expecially when pairing it with lime or lemon. it makes any dish taste light and palatable. While others from Europe and the eastern side of the world may have an aversion, as it may remind tem of soap (which i cant fathom)i feel as if they are introduced to it gradually and paired with salads, salsas, guacamole, or even thick soups then there may possibly be a chance for them to like it. If one still does not like cilantro after introducing them to it gradually, at least they should be able to withstand a meal without removing the herb from the dish or avoid it completely.
ReplyDelete