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cilantro
Herbs & Spices
Trigger checker for cilantro
See cilantro rated across every trigger — FODMAP, histamine, salicylate, oxalate, tyramine and more — plus diet compatibility, all in one quick ingredient profile.
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Compare cilantro across criteria
Sensitivities
What cilantro contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where cilantro fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about cilantro
Cilantro is one of the cleanest fresh herbs for food sensitivities: low in histamine, low FODMAP, gluten free and clean on nickel, oxalates and sulfites. Its only measurable caveat is moderate salicylates, in line with most green herbs. The famous "cilantro tastes like soap" complaint is not an allergy or intolerance at all: it is a harmless genetic quirk in smell-receptor genes near OR6A2 that makes certain aldehydes in the leaf read as soapy.
Watch for
- Moderate salicylates, the one real chemical caveat, so it is worth noting on a strict low-salicylate plan; and note that many common herbs, including parsley, basil and mint, run higher in salicylates than cilantro does
- The soapy taste is genetics, not a reaction: an inherited variant near the OR6A2 olfactory-receptor cluster makes cilantro aldehydes smell soapy to roughly 4 to 14% of people, and it is completely harmless
- True cilantro allergy exists but is uncommon, and it is a separate thing from the soapy-taste gene
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FAQ
What does the FODMAP rating mean for cilantro?
Low FODMAP: usually easier for most people, still watch portion size.
Is cilantro generally well tolerated?
Salicylates (Low) and Histamine (Safe) Start with those if you react.
What should I check next?
Compare within the Herbs & Spices group.