Folks, it's the day we never thought would exist... International "I Hate Cilantro" Day.
Now, we all know someone who holds an avid distaste for the pungent green herb, but we never thought the hatred would go as far as getting its own formally recognized "international day."
Keep scrolling for the full story, and to hear about the huge online community of global cilantro haters.
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This peculiar green herb has divided the nation for decades...
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With people either drowning their recipes in the stuff or despising the mere smell of it.Cilantro is typically used in Asian dishes...
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And makes the perfect, yet pungent, garnish for various different curries.Well, for most of us it does.
Despite the overwhelming popularity of this herb, there are just as many people out there who can't stand the smell, sight, or taste of the stuff.Admittedly, cilantro does have a rather unusual flavor...
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When put into words, I'd describe the herb as having a floral, almost perfume-like aroma and taste.It sounds pretty disgusting, doesn't it?
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Well, I for one adore cilantro, and I certainly don't think it deserves all the hate it receives.But there are many avid cilantro haters out there...
Who are extremely passionate over their distaste for the stuff.But why do such a select group of people hold such passionate hatred for the plant?
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Genetics may just be the answer.Studies have found that a person's genetic make-up could be the answer to their preference for cilantro.
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Professor Russell Keast, who specializes in sensory and food science at Deakin University’s School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, explained: "Sense of smell is highly variable between people, so what I experience may not be what you experience, and this can be due to quantity, type and natural variations with smell receptors."A person's smell receptors determine the flavor of the herb.
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So, while some will get an aromatic, herby flavor, others are likely to experience a pungent, soap-like taste. Science.A scientific study only cemented this theory further...
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The genetic testing company, 23andMe, surveyed 50,000 of their customers a couple of years ago, asking whether they liked the taste of cilantro or found it to be soapy.And the results spoke for themselves.
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Those who reported to not like the flavor were found to all have the same genetic variation in their DNA.