What is Coriander?

Coriander is the whole dried seed of Coriandrum sativum, the same plant whose fresh leaves are sold as cilantro. It belongs to the carrot family (Apiaceae). The seeds have a bright, citrusy, slightly nutty aroma quite unlike the leaves.

About the plant

Coriander is native to the Mediterranean and Western Asia and appears in nearly every cuisine in the world. Its bright aroma comes largely from linalool. The seed and the leaf come from one plant but taste entirely different: roughly one in ten people perceive fresh cilantro leaves as "soapy" because of a genetic variant in olfactory receptor genes, but the seeds do not carry that quality even for people who dislike the fresh herb. Coriander is a foundation of Indian curry blends, Middle Eastern mixes like za'atar and ras el hanout, pickling brines, and Latin American cooking.

Related herbs

• Cumin Seed Powder — another Apiaceae seed spice for curries and blends.

Coriander: form & sizes

We carry Coriander as organic whole dried seeds, sold by weight in sizes from 1 oz to 1 lb. We make no health or therapeutic claims.

Storage

Store Coriander in an airtight container, away from heat, light, and humidity, to preserve its color and aroma.

Coriander at a glance

Botanical name

Coriandrum sativum

Family

Apiaceae

Native region

the Mediterranean and Western Asia

Plant part

seeds

Sourcing

Organic

Aromatic compound

Linalool

Same plant as

Cilantro (the fresh leaves)

Form

whole dried seeds

Sizes

1 oz to 1 lb