These people have a variation in a group of olfactory-receptor genes that allows them to strongly perceive the soapy-flavored aldehydes in cilantro leaves. This genetic quirk is usually only found in a small percent of the population, though it varies geographically.
"It is estimated that 4 to 14 percent of the U.S. population has this genetic variation, making cilantro taste like soap," says Chef Brooke Baevsky, a manager in product development at Freshly. "For everyone else, the leafy green tastes like a fresh herb."
It's in Your Genes
What's the deal behind this peculiar phenomenon? According to a genetic survey by researchers at Cornell University, there's a very specific gene that makes some people strongly dislike the taste of cilantro. After surveying nearly 30,000 people, the scientists singled it down to the OR6A2 gene.
So, if cilantro does taste like soap to you, you may have that combination of both supertaster and the olfactory receptors that could prove invaluable to companies that want to make sure their products' tastes never change.
These people have a variation in a group of olfactory-receptor genes that allows them to strongly perceive the soapy-flavored aldehydes in cilantro leaves. This genetic quirk is usually only found in a small percent of the population, though it varies geographically.
Several years back, a team of 23andMe scientists found that there's a “genetic component to cilantro taste perception.” The findings suggested that genetic variants in the olfactory receptors may be what contributes to some people's distaste for cilantro.
When people say they hate cilantro, they often attribute this food feeling to a soapy aftertaste. Thanks to a video from SciShow, we finally know why cilantro tastes like soap for some 4-14 percent of the population. “How cilantro tastes to you has a lot to do with your genes,” says SciShow's Hank Green.
Scientists think that it's possible to overcome the aversion. Bruising the herb through crushing, mincing, or pulverizing (like in this Spicy Parsley-Cilantro Sauce recipe) releases some of the soapy-tasting enzymes. Cooking cilantro—instead of eating it raw—is also thought to reduce the soapiness.
Depending on ancestry, somewhere between 3% and 21% of the population associate it with unpleasant taste, including a combination of soap and vomit, or say that it is similar to the foul smelling odor emitted by stinkbugs.
What is cilantro taste aversion? Many people dislike cilantro (also known as coriander), describing the taste as “soapy.” 23andMe researchers found two genetic markers associated with this aversion. These markers are located near genes that help determine your sense of smell through proteins called olfactory receptors.
"I will also tell you the primary chemical that makes (cilantro) tastes like cilantro is citronellol, which is also the number one fragrance in Ivory soap."
Good News: You Can Actually Train Yourself to Like Cilantro
But bitter isn't necessarily a "safe" taste. A lot of potentially harmful foods are bitter, so your initial reaction to them might be less than positive.
Cilantro haters are a vocal bunch (an estimated 4-14% of the population), so against the herb that they can't even bear the tiniest taste.
Cilantro is said to have a fresh, citrusy, and/or soapy taste — depending on who you ask — and is also called Chinese parsley. Its seeds, on the other hand, are often referred to as coriander, which is a nutty- and spicy-tasting spice.
Super-tasters have many more visible taste papillae than tasters and non-tasters. This is illustrated in the figure below. This means they have many more taste cells with receptors for bitter taste. Super-tasters are also more sensitive to sweet, salty and umami tastes, but to a lesser extent (10).
Testing a person's sensitivity to a bitter chemical called 6-n-propylthiouracil (PROP) is a more definitive way to determine if he or she is a supertaster; non-tasters can't taste PROP, but supertasters can and really don't like its bitter taste!
Researchers have found that cilantro may provide health benefits in the form of reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, obesity, and seizure severity, as well as raising energy levels and healthy hair and skin.
There is also some evidence that people who hate cilantro can overcome this distaste with repeated exposure to the herb — especially if it's crushed or minced. But many people choose to use parsley in place of cilantro instead to avoid the soapy taste all together.
Famed chef Julia Child hated cilantro with an unbridled passion. She banned it from her home, her kitchen, and all of her sous chefs from using the herb. And now we have a scientific explanation as to why. 10% of the population has an olfactory gene that makes cilantro tastes like soap.
The reason behind the divisive flavor of coriander lies in our genes. There is a genetic component to coriander taste perception. This perception is believed to be a result of an enzyme that changes the way one senses the taste of coriander—a genetic trait that is still being researched upon.
Cilantro contains oxalic acid, which is toxic to humans. Oxalic acid is a natural substance found in many foods, but it is especially prevalent in spinach, rhubarb, and lima beans. Consuming too much cilantro can cause cilantro toxicity that may result in severe health problems, including kidney damage.
Some people possess a gene that makes them super-sensitive to the aldehyde component found in cilantro and other foods and products. One study noted a very specific genetic link near the olfactory center of DNA in about 10% of those with cilantro aversion.
Now we know there is a genetic basis. Cucumbers contain related organic compounds that are thought to cause the smell and taste some people find repugnant and others don't notice at all. A gene called TAS2R38 is responsible. It's true; that cucumber hate is actually encoded in their genes!
The hate, it seems, stems from the chemicals inside cilantro and a variation in olfactory receptor genes that some people have. These individuals say that cilantro smells pungent and leaves a rather soapy taste in the mouth. This is different from the strong citrus notes that others taste.