cilantro
Herbs & Spices
Is cilantro high in salicylates?
Find out whether cilantro is high or low in salicylates, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
Related checkers
Compare cilantro across criteria
Sensitivity notes
Why salicylates food checker matters
Salicylates are natural chemicals found in many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. They're related to aspirin and can cause reactions in sensitive individuals including hives, asthma symptoms, nasal congestion, and digestive issues.
- Start by eliminating the highest sources: spices, herbs, and concentrated products
- Peel fruits and vegetables when possible to reduce salicylate content
- Fresh is usually better tolerated than dried or concentrated
Triggers
Diets
Serving size, prep, and portion notes for 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
Explore related in Herbs & Spices
Compare similar foods to build a personalized list of swaps that work for your system.
Salicylates Guide
Everything you need to know about salicylates sensitivity and smart food choices.
Salicylates are natural chemicals found in many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. They're related to aspirin and can cause reactions in sensitive individuals including hives, asthma symptoms, nasal congestion, and digestive issues.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Salicylates sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in salicylates and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Salicylates, consider these strategies:
- 1Start by eliminating the highest sources: spices, herbs, and concentrated products
- 2Peel fruits and vegetables when possible to reduce salicylate content
- 3Fresh is usually better tolerated than dried or concentrated
- 4Build up tolerance slowly by reintroducing foods one at a time
- 5Sensitivity often improves with gut healing over time
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
Want personalized tracking?
Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is cilantro high in Salicylates?
Salicylates: moderate signal - portion size matters.
Can I still eat cilantro if I'm sensitive to Salicylates?
Try smaller portions and space it out.
What else should I check?
Check Histamine, Histamine Liberators, and FODMAPs next for a fuller picture.