Cilantro Haters Unite, While Wearing Anti-Cilantro Graphic Tees
Some think cilantro and think, green herb in guacamole, but others look at the leaves and shudder, cursing the evildoer for ruining otherwise vibrant curries, Indian chutneys and Mexican salsas. Roughly 2,000 haters have gathered on the web-based community IHateCilantro.com to "tell their story," buy anti-cilantro mugs and pray that one day we'll all wake up and it'll all just parsley.
The community's manifesto reads: "Together they have chosen against cilantro. They have chosen against it in their meals, in their kitchens and in their stomachs." Beyond tees, members can purchase throw pillows, steins and even fuzzy bears branded with the slashed-out cilantro bunch. Poets can vent under the site's "haiku" section, where one member "Milford," for example, had the following to say.
redolent of soap
this herb washes away hope
a good meal ruined
- Milford
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25 Comments:
Where can I get my I Love Cilantro counter-insurgency tee?
simon at 12:22PM on 06/16/08
It's probably too complicated for a t-shirt, but I want one that says "I Love Cilantro But Hate the Smell it Leaves on My Hands After Handling It"
rheogs at 12:28PM on 06/16/08
That is hilarious.
Go figure everything people like or dislike will eventually have a website!
I can't fuss though...I am for the cause-
I hate cilantro!
:D
sadiepix at 1:01PM on 06/16/08
When I was pregnant... a whiff of cilantro would make me ill. Other than that, I like cilantro just fine.
WineUnleashed at 1:12PM on 06/16/08
I'm thinking of starting www.idontmindcilantrobutstopoverusingit.com. Any takers?
Cynikell at 1:29PM on 06/16/08
You'll notice that very few people in the countries that use the most cilantro hate it: http://www.ihatecilantro.com/map.php. And heck, there's only 1 person in all of Montana and 1 person in all of Wyoming that hate cilantro.
While this movement doesn't seem to threaten my future meals at the moment I'm going to start a cilantro seed bank just in case. If you have any rare, heirloom varieties of cilantro you want protected against potential impending doom send me some seeds. Cilantro lovers unite before its too late!
christopher at 2:02PM on 06/16/08
@simon. As soon as you find one, let me know. Long Live Cilantro!
Barbara Hanson at 2:03PM on 06/16/08
lol
simon at 2:04PM on 06/16/08
Isn't there some sort of genetic predispostion - a certain number of people are genetically wired to dislike the taste of cilantro? Or is that a myth?
AnaisKoi at 2:53PM on 06/16/08
"Some people instead perceive an unpleasant "soapy" taste and/or a rank smell. This is believed to be a result of an enzyme that changes the way they taste coriander leaves, a genetic trait, but has yet to be fully researched."
AnaisKoi at 2:55PM on 06/16/08
LONG LIVE CILANTRO!!!
missbhavens at 3:20PM on 06/16/08
Viva Cilantro!
sophia kitchencaravan at 3:38PM on 06/16/08
My neighbor across the hall HATES cilantro, every time he gets tipsy or completely drunk he rants and rants about cilantro. He calls it the demonweed. I thought he was insane but now I know there's a whole club for people like him!
mangabanga at 3:38PM on 06/16/08
At first I didn't like cilantro, but then I grew to like it over time. I totally understand about how someone could find it to taste "soapy" - I did at first, but then it stopped tasting like that to me and took on a more herbal quality that I now enjoy. This makes me wonder what changed: the way the plant is grown (since the herb is now much more prevalent in grocery stores and on menus) or me? I like to believe I'm just not that picky of an eater and my open mindedness eventually won out over the (originally) unfamiliar flavor.
Amandarama at 4:31PM on 06/16/08
@Cynikell -- count me in. i mean seriously, cilantro on falafel? c'mon!
sloppy at 5:16PM on 06/16/08
@Amandarama, I had the same experience as you. I used to dislike it, but grew to like it after discovering Thai food.
Frances Magbual at 5:37PM on 06/16/08
I've always found cilantro to be one of the most offensive smelling/tasting herbs, if not foods in general.
Oddly, though, I am a big fan of the coriander seed. That rank, disgusting herb does produce one amazingly good spice.
JLecru at 6:06PM on 06/16/08
I love cilantro. They put it on Vietnamese sandwiches instead of lettuce. Would have thunk it.
A tacqueria near me brings out a bowl of onions and cilantro when they bring out the chips and salsa. I grab it between my fingers and put it on the chips with or without the salsa. Delicious.
eatorama at 6:57PM on 06/16/08
TASTES LIKE SOAP!!! The first time I ever had it I was convinced the rice in the burrito I was eating had been washed in dish soap. Disgusting. I actually found this website awhile ago and I'm DEFINITELY buying my sister an "I hate cilantro" t-shirt for her birthday.
embolini9 at 8:08PM on 06/16/08
Cilantro is awesome. Makes my fishball soup broth taste like wow!
pemabuk at 11:15PM on 06/16/08
I detest the evil weed. I once picked up a bunch at the supermarket-it was masquerading as parsley-and when I realized what I'd done I dropped it like a dead mouse. My hand sanitizer took care of the odor. I'm itching just thinking about it. I am of the school that says it tastes like soap and ruins everything it touches. It also gives my tongue a tingly sensation if I happen to accidentally eat it. Could it be that it isn't only genetic but an allergen too?
I am ok with low coriander quotients in Indian food, but I avoid Mexican and Thai because those cuisines are cilantro minefields.
I wish I could like it, but wishing doesn't make it so.
joannabar at 10:03AM on 06/18/08
This is a paradox; yes it does taste soapy, but I still like it! I guess to my palate, it comes across as a very 'clean' flavor and balances the intensity of Mexican and Thai cuisine.
petroushka at 3:02AM on 06/25/08
I love cilantro but used to dislike it until I moved to CA and tasted it in Mexican food.
Now that I'm back in NY I still love it - there's nothing that compliments greasy spicy food (Indian or Mexican) like Cilantro! I am a convert!
I think the parallels between Mexican spices and flavors and Indian spices and flavors is very striking:
Cumin
Pepper
Mango
Lime
Chili
Cilantro
Tamarind
Lemon
Could someone write a book on this please?
Mischiefdish at 12:32PM on 06/25/08
you're not going to believe this - I like cilantro but the real fan in the house is my kitten. She is absolutely nuts over it :)
marcella at 2:57PM on 04/13/09
Scientists have proven that certain people possess the genetic predisposition to be able to taste cilantro in its true form. They say that the people who taste "soap" lack the taste buds that others possess. This may be true, but as a professional chef I have come to understand that it's more simple than that. I have made many meals that featured a good amount of cilantro, feeding people who hate the ingredient, and I didn't necessarily make them love it, but they enjoyed it and weren't bothered by it as much as they had been in the past.
Don't think of cilantro like other ingredients. Chicken, strawberries, pork, potato, etc. are very versatile ingredients that are easy to prepare. Cilantro is simply less versatile and requires advanced culinary techniques in order to harness great flavor. Cilantro, like hot chiles, is a very unique ingredient that, if not utilized correctly, can be overwhelming and unenjoyable on most palates. However, it can add a ton of flavor when used fresh in appropriate ratios, chopped properly so as to not bruise the leaves and release too much of the oils, and when it's incorporated with ingredients that naturally pair well, such as tomato, onion, chile, oil, salt, and avocado to name a few.
Try not to wash cilantro; if it is sandy, just wipe it off since water will wash away the natural flavor. However, this may be unavoidable in some supermarkets where it can be covered with dirt. Ninety percent of the plant is grown for its seed (coriander) and not for its leaves. I grow my own "Cilantro Santo" in my home and it's perfect. This variety is different from the rest in that it produces more leaves and better flavor. Another huge factor that can spoil the flavor of cilantro is the type of fertilizer used. Too much nitrogen will give an unpleasant taste to the herb. Too much humidity and heat in the growth stage will also damage the flavor. Hope this changed some of your minds.
P.S. - Mexican fare has closer ties to Carribean and Asian cuisine than it does with Indian.
ChefR0bert at 10:47AM on 08/19/09