Why Does Cilantro Taste Like Soap to Some People?

Cilantro is an essential herb in so many recipes, from guacamole to salsas to many chicken and shrimp dishes, and it's a staple in several cuisines. But for some people cilantro is a no-go, and not just out of personal preference. In fact, it tastes like soap. Why does cilantro taste like soap for some of the population? We asked scientists and food professionals about the genetic variant that causes this response as well as their ideas on alternatives to this herb.

Why Some People Dislike Cilantro

"When cilantro is chopped or crushed, it produces a class of compounds called aldehydes, which makes up the flavor of cilantro," says Bryan Quoc Le, Ph.D., food scientist and author of 150 Food Science Questions Answered. "Many of these include long chain alkenals and alkanals, whose structure is similar to the compounds produced during the production of soap. Some people possess a genetic predisposition for detecting these aldehydes in minute concentrations, whereas other people are less sensitive to aldehydes." These individuals experience cilantro as being soapy and bitter. Individuals of East Asian, Caucasian, and African descent are more likely to have an aversion to cilantro, he says.

"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 private chef and CEO of In the Kitchen with Chef Bae. "For everyone else, the leafy green tastes like a fresh herb."

How to Substitute Cilantro in Recipes

An aversion to cilantro can create a dilemma when cooking for people who think the herb is a lip-puckering source of disgust. What's a home cook to do?

General Substitutions

Jessica Randhawa, recipe developer and writer of The Forked Spoon, has found that the best substitute for guests who do not like cilantro is parsley combined with either lemon juice or lemon zest since parsley by itself lacks cilantro's citrusy tones.

Shawn Matijevich, lead chef for online culinary arts and food operations at the Institute of Culinary Education, says there really isn't a direct substitute for cilantro, but he's a fan of a similar swap: Chop parsley and lemon zest, then sprinkle lemon or lime juice over the top to add the citrus and herbaceous qualities he seeks in a dish that incorporates cilantro.

Guacamole and Salsa

If you're making a guacamole recipe that calls for cilantro, add in parsley instead (the recipe will likely already call for lime juice). The same concept applies to pico de gallo recipes that call for cilantro. Soft herbs, like basil and/or parsley, without the citrus addition work well too, says Baevsky. Don't just omit the cilantro because if you don't add an alternative ingredient to replace it, you might wind up with a dish that's missing out on some bold and bright flavor notes.

The Bottom Line

You don't want to serve cilantro-despising guests your favorite Cilantro-Lime Rice, but adding some simple recipe tweaks—and plenty of parsley—to dishes that usually lean on cilantro means you likely can please many palates.