Cilantro - herb with a unique aroma

Cilantro, or coriander as it is know in many place, is a very fast growing herb which grows quite easily.It is a relative of the carrot family and is sometimes called Chinese parsley and Coriander.

Cilantro, or coriander, has a unique odour which many people find lovely. Cilantro is a key component of cuisine in Mexico, Asia, and the Carribean. Cilantro looks very much like Parsley which is not surprising since the two are related. In shops, a bunch of parsley can be easily mistaken for a bunch of cilantro - but a quick 'sniff' reveals the truth. For thousands of years Cilantro has been used as a culinary herb. It has been used in ancient times in Egypt, India, and China and then it was introduced to Mexico and Peru where it is still used with chilies when making the wonderful cuisine in those countries.

It has since become very popular in certain parts of the United States as well. Today, Cilantro has lost some of it its popularity in Europe.

Cilantro is a Greek word that means "koris" which in English means "bedbug". This is because it is said by many that Cilantro smells like a bedbug. ("Go figure"... ) The Chinese did not seem to mind because they add Cilantro to their various love potions because to them it symbolizes immortality and has aphrodisiac properties too. Many also say that it is an appetite stimulant. Cilantro is easy to find, especially in supermarkets or middle Eastern stores.

Cilantro has an interesting history. Keep in mind that Cilantro is also in part Coriander, and some seeds were found in King Tut's tomb. It is also mentioned in the Old Testament and was used by physicians dated back as far as Hippocrates. The Ancient Egyptians used Cilantro for such things as headaches and urinary tract infections.

Cilantro can also mask the scent of rotting meat and it was used for that purpose quite frequently by earlier cultures. It would be fair to say that Cilantro is an herbal plant that has two identities since Cilantro is what the plant is referred to in its earliest stages and when it is fully developed it then becomes Coriander. Cilantro grows very quickly but also dies very quickly but it can easy grow in a pot on your windowsill. It is always best to harvest Cilantro before it bolts or blooms. If you wait too long to harvest Cilantro what will happen is that you will be harvesting Coriander because it will then be all seed.

Today, Cilantro can be found just about anywhere in the United States and is a garnish on almost every plate served in an upscale restaurant. The odd thing about Cilantro is that most people either love it or they hate it, usually there is no in between.

For those who love it, cilantro has a wonderfully pungent aroma. It goes magically with ginger, garlic and chilli, and coconut creates a harmony with it too. Drying cilantro is a waste as it loses it's aroma. If you have too much, better to chop it and freeze it, which preserves at least some of its delightful flaour.