Common supermarket herb tastes like bath soap to those with rare gene
Although coriander is an extremely common ingredient in a lot of foods, be it salads, curries, soups or as a garnish - there's a certain percent of the population who cannot stand the herb, and find it revolting. And - it's not to do with preference, in fact there's a scientific reason for it.
Between 4 to 14% of people think that coriander tastes like bath soap. According to research this sense of taste stems from a genetic susceptibility.
Health.com reports: "Scientists discovered that most people who dislike cilantro share a common olfactory receptor gene called OR6A2, which is responsible for absorbing the odour of aldehyde chemicals found in coriander." This means there's actually no way of making coriander taste less soapy if you carry the gene - a substitute for coriander is commonly parsley.
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TikTok page Museum Of Science which often breaks down myths and facts, it said: "(Genetic) Changes don't explain all the differences between the lovers and haters (of coriander). Like many traits, there's likely a combination of genetic changes and exposures. Like, the foods you grew up with."
Many people commented on the video. One person said: "Some Asian dishes tastes like laundry detergent to me." This comment seems fitting if you have the gene as a lot of curries contain coriander.
Another person said: "I went 24 years without tasting it [because] my parents also think it tastes like soap and never cooked with it." So, if you're one of those people who hate coriander - maybe you could try some exposure therapy?
If that doesn't work, then it's time to accept it's just not the herb for you due to genetics.
