Coriander oil is used in cosmetics, body care products and perfumes. Coriander is an aromatic spice containing a musky / citrusy scent. In North America, cilantro is often referred to the leaves of the plant, as the actual coriander name is reserved for the seeds.Īlthough part of the same plant, the leaves (cilantro) and seeds (coriander) have their own distinct flavours. Other plants, like coriander can be both. Some plants have only leaf or seed portion which can be consumed, and hence designate as one category. Spices often come from the seeds, root or bark of the plant which are considered edible (besides the leaves). Herbs pack a lot of flavour and can be sweet, spicy or savoury. An herb often refers to the fresh, leafy part of a plant. Coriander grows as a native plant around the world, including Europe, Asia, Africa and in the Americas.Ĭoriander is considered both an herb and a spice as it’s consumed in dry or fresh form. These seeds can be harvested and used as spice. When coriander blossoms, it produces white flowers with round, light brown seeds. It is an annual plant with slender green stems, and can reach up to three feet (one metre) tall with green, parsley looking leaves. What is Coriander?Ī member of the parsley family, coriander is known and referred to by several names including cilantro and Chinese parsley. Today, many countries produce coriander including Russia, Morocco, Egypt, Romania, China and India. It is still widely used in traditional tonics and cough medicines in many Asian countries. It has been used as a condiment and as an ingredient in medicines. In 1670, coriander was first brought to the British colonies of North America and was one of the first spices cultivated by early settlers.Īs civilization spread, so did the popularity and uses of coriander. The plant was so popular in the Orient that it also dubbed its other name “Chinese parsley”. Cilantro is a Spanish word for coriander, and is commonly used in North America describing the leaves of the plant.Ĭhinese have extensively used coriander for centuries and believed it to treat various conditions including food poisoning. The name kept on evolving throughout Greek scripts from koriannon and later to koriander in German scripts. This reference was from the distinct aroma that cilantro leaves give off when they are bruised. The name for the plant was derived from the Greek word koris, meaning ‘a stink bug’. The Greek physician Hippocrates was also a fan of coriander for its medicinal and aromatic applications. One of the earliest forms of Greek around 1,450 B.C, (Mycenaean Greek) used Linear B syllabic script tablets to record scented perfume making formula using coriander. Īncient Greece was the next major civilization that cultivated coriander. Evidence was found during Egyptian pyramid excavations, as several baskets of coriander seeds were discovered inside the tomb of Tutankhamun (king Tut). The ancient Egyptians cultivated coriander some 3,100 B.C for its fragrant and medicinal properties. The oldest archaeological discovery of coriander was found in Nahal Hemar Cave (now Israel) belonging to the ancient Neolithic culture of upper Mesopotamia. Earliest evidence of its use date back as far as 6,500 B.C. This annual herb is believed to originate from Asia Minor (modern day Turkey) and old Persia. History of Corianderīeing one of the oldest herbs on record, coriander is written about in ancient texts including Sanskrit, Egyptian papyri, and the Old Testament where manna’s white colour is described as being “like a coriander seed” (Exodus 16:31). In this article, we’ll take a closer look at some of coriander’s health and wellness powers.
#CORIANDER SEED SKIN#
Its health properties have been linked to alleviating numerous ailments including bacterial infections, regulating blood sugar, clearing up skin conditions while enhancing digestive process. In North America, we’re more familiar with coriander’s leaves, or cilantro as we commonly referred to it.īesides aromatic smell and taste, coriander has been an important ingredient within many traditional medicines. Coriander contains unique citrus yet nutty flavour making it a popular spice within the South Asian cuisines.
As one of the oldest spices, it has naturally evolved and cultivated for thousands of years into several variations. Coriander is a fragrant flowering plant that is a member of the parsley (Apiaceae) family.
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