Cilantro vs. coriander
Sunday, June 6th, 2010Even though I’ve had my three packets of seeds for nearly two months, today was the day for me to finally decide to get them planted. So I did the momlike thing and showed my kids how to plant seeds in pots. I had chosen green onions, basil and cilantro.
While double-checking the back of the packets to ensure proper planting (and thus proper teaching), I read the description of cilantro and learned the difference between it and coriander. And I can admit that the packet’s definition didn’t line up with what I had thought the difference was.
I was under the apparently false assumption (and you know what that means) that cilantro is the name given to the herb when used in Mexican dishes and coriander is what it is called in Mediterranean dishes.
Nope.
Cilantro, according to the packet’s text, is the name given to the leaves of the plant.
Cilantro (photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dasqfamily/2648343226/)
Coriander is the name given to the seeds.
Coriander (photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/spilt-milk/554209128/)
How’s that for a straightforward answer? Love it.
Happy trails!
