FOOD NEWS
The Controversial Herb That's Also America's Most Popular
BY MIKE DUNPHY
The results of the "Herbs and Spices Showdown" demonstrate yet another key divide that runs almost the length of the Mississippi River: peoples' views on cilantro.
This pungent, peppery member of the Apiaceae family, which also includes carrots, celery, and parsley, was ranked the top herb or spice in 17 states.
Cilantro haters are particularly vocal, with one Reddit page specifically flipping it the bird. Some describe the flavor and aroma as things like "rotting leather.”
Colonial and early America drew much of its population from Western European countries and cultures, which did not use cilantro — or coriander, as they still prefer to call it.
Later migrations to America and the West came more from Southeast Asia, China, India, and Latin America, where cilantro was a staple.