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There's a scientific reason why some people hate the taste of cilantro
Featured Image Credit: istetiana/Getty/Liudmila Chernetska/Getty

There's a scientific reason why some people hate the taste of cilantro

If you don't like cilantro, it could be down to science

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

There are plenty of food items that can prove to be quite divisive on the internet.

For instance, while many may not like sprouts on their Christmas dinner, others love them and can't imagine a festive season without them.

But while brussels sprouts may be up for debate, many are in agreement that the herb known as cilantro is quite frankly not very nice.

Many have spoken about how much they dislike the taste of cilantro in the past, including some of the biggest cooks and chefs in the business.

Back in 2016, US cook and author Ina Garten likened the herb to 'passive-aggressive people' as some of her most disliked things on the planet.

Many hate the taste of cilantro.
Getty Stock Photo

Meanwhile, the late chef and author Julia Child had similar thoughts when she was interviewed on TV by Larry King back in 2002.

When he asked the legendary chef what food she hated, she instantly responded: "Cilantro and arugula I don’t like at all.

"They’re both green herbs, they have kind of a dead taste to me."

This led to King asking: "So you would never order it?"

“Never,” she responded. “I would pick it out if I saw it and throw it on the floor.”

So why does it appear that so many people hate the taste of cilantro?

Well, SciShow, a popular science show on YouTube has all the answers.

There's a scientific reason as to why people hate the taste.
Getty Stock Photo

According to them, the whole reason why a lot of people can't stand the taste of soap is because it tastes like soap.

SciShow conducted a lot of research on the matter, including asking 30,000 people what they thought of cilantro.

And they quickly found some things in common with those who can't stand the sight of the food.

Host of the science show, Hank Green explained: "Subjects who said that cilantro made salsa taste like bubble bath had similarities in a cluster of smell receptor genes that - surprise - detect the smell of soap.

"They tended to share one gene in particular which codes for the receptor that picks up the scent of aldehyde chemicals....There is more than one aldehyde responsible for giving cilantro its distinctive smell and they also happen to be a byproduct of soap making."

However, not everyone who dislikes cilantro has this particular gene, while there are others who do have the genetics who are a fan of the herb.

What camp are you in?

Topics: Science, Food and Drink