Cilantro vs Coriander: What Is the Difference?
The cilantro vs coriander question comes up all the time, and the answer is short: they are the same plant. The plant is Coriandrum sativum, and which name you use depends on where you live and which part of the plant you mean.
The names
- In the United States, cilantro is the fresh leaves and stems. Coriander is the dried seeds.
- In the UK, Australia and many other countries, the plant and its leaves are usually called coriander, and the seeds are "coriander seeds."
The name "cilantro" comes from the Spanish word for the herb.
How they taste
Fresh cilantro leaves taste bright, citrusy and herbal. Coriander seeds are warmer and nuttier, with a citrus note of their own. They are different enough that one cannot stand in for the other. A small share of people find the leaves taste soapy, which is linked in part to genetics.
How each is used
Fresh cilantro goes into salsas, rice, chutneys, curries and salads, usually at the end of cooking because heat dulls its flavor. Our cilantro recipes page lists dishes like Mexican cilantro lime rice, Thai cilantro chicken and Indian cilantro chutney. If you want to try one, see the easy cilantro lime rice recipe.
Coriander seeds are usually toasted and ground, and they are a common spice in curries, spice blends, pickles and breads.
How the seeds happen
When a cilantro plant bolts, it flowers and then sets seed. Those seeds are the coriander. This means that a plant that has bolted, which ends your leaf harvest, starts a coriander harvest instead. To keep the leaves coming for longer, read how to stop cilantro from bolting.
Which to grow
If you grow for leaves, choose a variety that bolts slowly. Our page on cilantro varieties compares them. If you want seed, let the plant flower and dry the seed heads once they turn brown.
Not the same as parsley
Flat-leaf parsley and cilantro look alike at a glance, and they are often mixed up, but they are different plants with different flavors. Parsley is milder and grassier. If a recipe calls for one, the other is not a good swap.
Common questions
Is cilantro the same as parsley?
No. They are different plants, though flat-leaf parsley looks similar. Cilantro has a bright, citrusy flavor, and parsley is milder and grassier.
Can I substitute coriander seeds for fresh cilantro?
Not well. The seeds taste warm and nutty, and the leaves taste fresh and citrusy.
Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?
A small share of people perceive it that way, and genetics plays a part. For them, the leaves taste different from how most people taste them.