21 Coriander Facts: The Truth About This Herb For Your Health

Coriander is a spice that is green in color.

It is one of the most commonly used in the world. Another name that coriander has is cilantro.

Cilantro is actually the Spanish term for coriander. It has a very vivid history in the world. It has been around for many thousands of years.

While there is no accurate knowledge of where it originally comes from, it is thought to have first been grown in the Mediterranean. It was also seen in the southwestern parts of Europe. It is actually a very common theory that coriander originated in Italy, where it was first cultivated.

The usage of coriander goes all the way back to 5000 BCE at a minimum. There have been writings seen in different languages that include references to coriander. There was even mention of coriander in religious texts such as the Old Testament. The Ancient Romans used coriander in order to preserve their meat.

In the more recent history of the world, coriander became one of the first plants that were grown by early American colony settlers in Massachusetts sometime in the late 1600s. Coriander was also used in recent history to create a form of alcohol.

Yes, that's right; coriander was indeed used to manufacture liquor. A Frenchman used coriander to produce distilled liquor in the seventeenth century.

If you enjoyed this article about coriander facts, you might be interested in these articles on Kidadl about whether rabbits can eat cilantro and can dogs eat cilantro! It can make for a fun learning experience that can give you facts you may never have known before!

Is cooked coriander good?

Coriander is a shrub. Because it is a plant, it is natural to wonder if the coriander can be consumed raw or cooked.

The concept of cooking with coriander plants stems from the belief that the coriander plant can be used as a spice. It has been used for much longer than in recent history. The early Romans, the Egyptians, and the Greeks used coriander leaves when cooking.

The very taste of coriander makes it perfect to be used in the kitchen. It is usually not cooked as its own dish but is frequently used as a form of garnish in many different dishes all over the world.

The chopped coriander leaves make for a great form of topping in different curries and dishes with a gravy base.

Additionally, it is also popular for cooking pickles, sauces, and different chutneys. Coriander leaves are added as a form of spice to add flavor and are one of the oldest herbs and spices used in the world.

Coriander leaves are used in food products that are cooked primarily in Middle Eastern, African, and Indian cuisines—these range from different forms of stews, vegetables, and soups. However, its usage and popularity are not limited to these parts of the world. Coriander is actually used globally.

Can we eat coriander seeds?

While we have discussed quite a fair bit about cooking with coriander leaves, what does it mean for the coriander seed? Is eating coriander seeds safe? Does the consumption of coriander seeds bring any health benefits?

To begin with, coriander seeds are perfectly safe to consume. In fact, the seeds of this plant have a strong aroma, and they can enhance the flavor of the food perfectly. They have been used in cuisines around the world for a very long time.

The sale of whole seeds is very common in regions such as India, where the seeds of the Coriandrum sativum have been included in different forms of cuisines and are known to add incredible flavor. The powder made from ground coriander seeds is also very popular.

You can harvest your own dried seeds. It can be a pretty fun activity for families. Because the coriander plant prefers growing in a cooler environment, grow the coriander plant in the fall or the spring. Avoid growing the plant in the summer as the heat prevents proper growth.

Do not get too eager to collect the leaves of the plant, as this might hinder the growth of the seeds of the plant. While growing coriander can seem daunting at first, growing the plant for the coriander seed or fresh leaves is not difficult. The herb is pretty easy to grow.

Uses Of Coriander

There are several different uses for Coriandrum sativum that are incredibly varied. Different parts of the plant can be used for different purposes.

One of the first uses of the coriander herb is as a spice. The dried seeds have long been used all over the world to add flavor to food and make food that is generally bland edible and bursting with flavor.

The recipes that include the use of seeds from coriander are numerous. They are used in curries and baked goods. The seeds make particularly good additions to marinades.

The cilantro leaves are used for different purposes. The fresh leaves from the cilantro make good garnishes on food items such as pasta, soups, or noodle dishes.

There is also coriander oil, produced from coriander seeds. The oil made from these coriander seeds has a range of different benefits.

Additionally, the seeds from the Coriandrum sativum are able to purify the blood in the body to some extent. It also aids in the digestive process of the body.

Health Benefits Of Eating Coriander

Coriander brings a range of different health benefits to the table. It is not only present to make flavorless food edible but is actually beneficial to the human body.

Firstly, the consumption of cilantro has been historically used to deal with problems of the stomach. It aids in the better digestion of food. Additionally, it is known to help regain the appetite someone might have lost because of digestive issues.

This makes it useful to some extent for people who suffer from anorexia. This benefit occurs as a result of the strong aroma that comes from the inclusion of the coriander spice while cooking food. Furthermore, it is also used to deal with gastric issues.

Coriander has also been known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Its anti-inflammatory properties make it useful for creams and lotions that are applied to the skin. They aid in the treatment of joints that ache.

Thirdly, coriander can aid in weight loss programs. Anyone who is trying to lose weight should consider the use of coriander oil. It aids in lipolysis.

The body process called lipolysis is the process that describes the breaking down of fat and cholesterol in our bodies. By increasing the speed of the process known as lipolysis, our body is able to break down fat faster. This increases the rate at which we lose weight.

Coriander can also be used to treat something like a headache. All you need to do is prepare a herbal tea made of coriander and infuse it with hot water. It works particularly well with headaches that are caused by the flu or the common cold.

Coriander contains several nutritional properties and vitamins, such as vitamin K, vitamin C, and vitamin A. Together, vitamin K and vitamin C make up a particularly important facet in the growth of the human body.

Additionally, its antioxidant properties make up a very significant part of the body's development. The presence of antioxidants can boost the immune system and also make your skin look good while it's at it.

There are other health benefits to consuming coriander. It is seen to improve heart health among people. It is also able to protect the brain's health to some extent.

Taste Of Coriander

The taste of coriander is important to understand how it is used in different recipes all around the world.

There is a stark contrast between how the coriander leaf tastes and how the coriander seeds taste.

Coriander seeds are known to have a more aromatic smell and add a strong flavor to food.

On the contrary, fresh coriander leaves taste pungent. They are popularly known to taste like soap. It is important to know that coriander leaves cannot be used to substitute coriander seeds in different recipes.

To put it simply, the leaves are more commonly used as edible decorations, while the seeds and their powder are used to add flavor to food.

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