The Herb Prof Team researches and writes our herbal guides, drawing on published research, traditional herbal references, and hands-on growing experience.
What does cilantro taste like? For most people, it tastes fresh, citrusy, and herbal, with a faint bitter edge. For others, it tastes like soap. Both reactions are real, and the difference comes down to genetics. This guide explains the flavor, why it divides people, and what to use if you can’t stand it.
What Does Cilantro Taste Like?
Cilantro has a bright, lemony, slightly grassy flavor that many people describe as fresh and clean. It also has a mild bitterness and a hint of sweetness. Its aroma is a big part of the experience, since the same compounds that give it that scent also shape how it tastes.
Heat softens it. Cilantro tastes strongest raw, which is why cooks usually stir it in at the end or use it as a garnish. Its fresh flavor is a staple in salsa, guacamole, curries, soups, and many Mexican, Latin American, and Asian dishes.
Cilantro vs Coriander: Do They Taste the Same?
Cilantro and coriander come from the same plant, Coriandrum sativum. In the US, cilantro usually means the fresh leaves and stems, while coriander means the dried seeds. In the UK and elsewhere, coriander often covers both.
The flavors differ a lot, though. The leaves taste fresh and citrusy, while the seeds taste warm, earthy, and slightly sweet, with a citrus note. That is why coriander seeds work in spice blends and rubs, and cilantro works as a fresh finishing herb. For more on growing both from one plant, see our guide on how to grow coriander (cilantro).
Why Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap to Some People?
Cilantro leaves contain aldehydes, a group of compounds that also appear in some soaps and lotions. Most people notice a citrusy, herbal scent. Some people pick up a strong soapy or metallic note instead.
Genetics plays a part. Researchers have linked a variant near the OR6A2 gene, which codes for a smell receptor that detects aldehydes, to finding cilantro soapy. However, it is not a simple one-gene rule. The variant explains only part of the difference between people who like cilantro and people who don’t.
Estimates of how many people notice the soapy taste vary by study and by population, and the variant is more common in some ancestry groups than others. In short, a dislike of cilantro is not an allergy, and it is not harmful to eat. It is simply how your nose reads the leaves.
Can You Learn to Like Cilantro?
Sometimes, although there is no guarantee. These approaches are worth a try:
- Start small. Add a few leaves to a dish and increase the amount over time.
- Chop or crush the leaves. Some cooks find that very fine chopping or crushing mellows the soapy note. Results vary from person to person.
- Pair it with other flavors. Lime juice, garlic, onion, and salt, as in a salsa, can balance cilantro’s sharpness.
- Try it in a different dish. Some people tolerate it better in a cooked dish than in a raw one.
If none of this works, nothing is wrong with you. Many people never warm to it, and there are good substitutes.
What Can You Use Instead of Cilantro or Coriander?
No herb tastes exactly the same, so choose a substitute based on what the recipe needs. Chinese parsley is not a substitute, because it is simply another name for cilantro.
| If the recipe needs | Try | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh cilantro leaves | Parsley | Milder, with no citrus note, but it looks similar |
| Fresh cilantro leaves | Basil or mint | Different flavors that suit salsas, salads, and Asian dishes |
| Fresh cilantro leaves | Dill | Another fresh, feathery herb with its own flavor |
| Ground coriander | Cumin | Warm and earthy with a little bitterness; start with a smaller amount and taste |
| Ground coriander | Garam masala or curry powder | Both already contain coriander seed, so they give a similar warmth |
| Coriander seeds | Caraway | Nutty and slightly sweet, a good fit for pickling and brines |
These swaps are general cooking practice, not tested equivalents. Add a little at a time and adjust to taste.
How to Get the Best Flavor From Cilantro
- Add it at the end. Heat dulls the flavor, so stir it in just before serving.
- Use the stems too. The tender stems are edible and carry plenty of flavor when finely chopped.
- Keep it fresh. Stand the stems in a jar of water in the refrigerator, or see our guide on whether cilantro grows back after cutting for storage tips.
Before You Go
Cilantro tastes fresh, citrusy, and herbal to most people and soapy to a minority, and genetics is a big reason why. Coriander seeds taste warm and earthy by comparison. If cilantro isn’t for you, parsley, basil, mint, or cumin cover most recipes. Whichever side you are on, you can grow your own with our coriander (cilantro) growing guide.
References – What Does Cilantro Taste Like?
Little Herb Encyclopedia, by Jack Ritchason; N.D., Woodland Publishing Incorporated, 1995
The Ultimate Healing System, Course Manual, Copyright 1985, Don Lepore
Planetary Herbology, Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., Lotus Press, 1988
Handbook of Medicinal Herbs, by James A. Duke, Pub. CRP Second Edition 2007
The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Published by Dorling Kindersley
Sources
- Eriksson, N., et al. “A genetic variant near olfactory receptor genes influences cilantro preference.” Flavour 2012, 1:22.
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Frequently Asked Questions – What Does Cilantro Taste Like?
What does cilantro taste like to most people?
Most people describe it as fresh, citrusy, and herbal, with a slight bitterness and a hint of sweetness.
Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?
Cilantro contains aldehydes that also appear in soaps. People with certain variants in smell-receptor genes, such as one near OR6A2, notice a soapy or metallic taste.
Is disliking cilantro inherited?
Genes play a part. A variant near the OR6A2 gene has been linked to finding cilantro soapy, but it explains only part of the difference between people who like it and people who don’t.
Is a dislike of cilantro an allergy?
No. It is a difference in how your smell receptors detect the leaves. It is not an allergy, and eating cilantro is not harmful because of it.
How can I reduce the soapy taste?
Chop the leaves very finely or crush them, and pair them with lime, garlic, or salt. Results vary from person to person.
What does coriander taste like?
The seeds taste warm, earthy, and slightly sweet, with a citrus note. They don’t taste like the fresh leaves.
What can I use instead of cilantro?
Parsley is the closest in looks, while basil, mint, and dill each bring a different flavor. For ground coriander, cumin or garam masala usually work.