The dislike for cilantro is due to certain genes. They are responsible for the olfactory receptors that make this herb extremely unpleasant in taste for some people.
Olives, liver, and cilantro are foods that polarize opinions. Some of them evoke strong reactions, and everyone must take a stance. Cilantro is one such food.
Reasons for Disliking Cilantro
The main accusation leveled against cilantro by its opponents is that it has a taste reminiscent of soap or even bugs. This is due to chemical compounds, aldehydes, found in cilantro that give it a soapy aroma. And where there is a smell, there is also a taste, reports health.24tv, citing BMC.
But if cilantro really has something soapy about it, why doesn't it bother everyone?
It turns out that sensitivity to aldehydes varies among people. Scientists compared the genomes of about 26,000 people who love and dislike cilantro and found differences in the genes of olfactory receptors.
In particular, they were interested in the gene OR6A2 — it encodes olfactory receptors that are particularly sensitive to aldehydes. Perhaps this gene influences people's preferences for cilantro. The same study showed that the heritability of the OR6A2 gene is low. This means that if cilantro smells like soap to parents, it does not guarantee that their children will feel the same way.
Hope Is Not Lost
However, even if you were born with a dislike for cilantro, it is not the end. Taste preferences can change. If you are lucky enough to try cilantro in a delicious dish or in the company of pleasant people, your attitude toward this herb may change for the better.
