Coriander Coriander Coriander (; "Coriandrum sativum"), also known as cilantro () or Chinese parsley, is an annual herb in the family Apiaceae. All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the parts most traditionally used in cooking. Most people perceive the taste of coriander leaves as a tart, lemon/lime taste, but a smaller group, of about 4–14% of people tested, think the leaves taste like bath soap, as linked to a gene which detects aldehyde chemicals also present in soap. Coriander is native to regions spanning from southern Europe and northern Africa to
Parsley or curly leaf ("P. crispum crispum" group; syn. "P. crispum" var. "crispum"); and, Italian, or flat leaf ("P. crispum neapolitanum" group; syn. "P. crispum" var. "neapolitanum"). Of these, the "neapolitanum" group more closely resembles the natural wild species. Flat-leaved parsley is preferred by some gardeners as it is easier to cultivate, being more tolerant of both rain and sunshine, and is said to have a stronger flavor — although this is disputed — while curly leaf parsley is preferred by others because of its more decorative appearance in garnishing. A third type, sometimes grown in southern Italy, has thick leaf