It tastes NOTHING like dirt. Dirt isn't sickening.
This has a green weirdness that permeates all the other flavors so that it is all you can taste. Parsley tastes more "earthy" this stuff tastes like STRONG and chlorophyl-laden or some overly green flavor. TOO MUCH
This is a description that I only WISH was accurate:
Cilantro is the leaf of the young coriander plant, Coriandrum sativum, an herb in the parsley family, similar to anise. Cilantro's taste is a fragrant mix of parsley and citrus.
Cilantro is excellent. If it tastes like soap to you, you have a gene that makes it taste that way. The perception of cilantro's taste is actually genetic, which I find fascinating.
This post was edited by Benedict Arnold at August 29, 2019 6:11 AM MDT
You are so right. There is something in that composition, that causes my stomach to turn slightly. I get it from a lot of very strong odd, green tastes. Like Wheat Grass. UGH. I can hardly get it down.
The genetic link is new to me. I didn't realize anyone thought it tasted like soap. I like it. I mean, I wouldn't go out and eat it fresh from the garden or anything, but it's good in dishes and drinks.
I have to wonder what other things the same gene impacts or how many other things people are divided on due to genetics.
It’s always tasted like soap to me. Just a bit sprinkled on any dish ruins the whole plate to me. tastes like poured dish detergent over all my food. I wasn’t aware it was a gene thing either until I read Nevan’s answer. Weird.
Cilantro does taste a little soapy to me when it is in salsa, but I recently had some shredded beef with cilantro and thought, "This must be what they meant for us to do with it." I haven't actually put any in my burrito/taco meat but I"ll let you know what I think, when I do.