Advertisement

If You Think Coriander Tastes Like Soap, It’s In Your Genes

No amount of lectures from foodie friends will help

Coriander
Coriander



To some people, coriander is a deliciously aromatic herb - to others, it’s absolutely revolting, a soapy flavour which can ruin dishes even in tiny amounts.

Scientists now believe that if you’re one of the unfortunates who tastes coriander as ‘soapy’, there is no cure - it’s in your genes.

Around one in seven people worldwide are thought to taste coriander as being soapy - and the phenomenon is now thought to be produced by four genes.

Genetic testing company 23andMe said, via YouTube channel SciShow: 'We put the coriander taste question to about 50,000 23andMe customers asking whether they liked the taste of coriander and whether they thought coriander had a soapy taste.

'When we compared the DNA of the coriander haters to the DNA of the coriander lovers, we found a SNP, or genetic variation, called rs72921001 to be associated with the trait in a subset of about 25,000 people with European ancestry.

'It shouldn't be surprising that this SNP is located near eight genes that code for olfactory receptors, biological sensors that detect chemicals in the air and in food.