Overview
About coriander leaves
Coriander leaves and cilantro are the same herb.
Americans call the fresh green leaf cilantro and keep coriander for the seed, while the UK, Australia and most of the world call the leaf coriander. So if a recipe or a trigger list says coriander leaves, that is cilantro. On the food-chemistry side it is one of the gentler fresh herbs: low salicylate, low histamine and low FODMAP, which is why it rarely triggers intolerance symptoms even when other green herbs like basil, mint or parsley do.
Sensitivities
How coriander leaves scores
Watch for
What trips people up
- Same plant as cilantro, just a different regional name: coriander leaf (UK and Australia) equals cilantro (US). The dried seed is a separate spice with its own profile.
- Graded low on salicylates, one of the lowest of the common fresh herbs, so it is a useful choice for salicylate-sensitive eaters where basil, mint, thyme and oregano all sit higher.
- The soapy taste some people notice is genetic, tied to an OR6A2 smell-receptor variant, and is not an intolerance or an allergy.
Diet fit
Where it fits
Swap ideas
More alternatives
FAQ
Common questions about coriander leaves
Are coriander leaves and cilantro the same thing?
Yes, identical. It is purely a naming difference: cilantro is the American word for the fresh leaf, coriander is the British and Australian word for the same leaf. Coriander seed is the dried spice from the same plant, which is a different thing again.
Is cilantro (coriander leaf) high in salicylates?
No. Fresh coriander leaf is graded low in salicylates, among the lowest of the common fresh herbs. Basil, parsley, mint and oregano all sit higher, so cilantro is a handy swap if you react to salicylates.
Why does coriander taste like soap to some people?
That is genetic, not a food intolerance. People with a particular variant of the OR6A2 olfactory-receptor gene pick up the aldehydes in the leaf as a soapy note. It says nothing about whether the herb is a trigger for you.
References
Read the background
Ratings reflect the Triggerbites ingredient database and may vary with portion size and preparation.