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Coriandrum sativum is the mysterious plant that yields the leaves called cilantro, and coriander seeds. These names are often incorrectly used interchangably causing much confusion. The roots, like the other plant parts, are edible and strong in flavor. This plant is irreplaceable in Indian, Asian, Chinese and Mexican cooking and it holds its own with the assertive tang of chile, garlic, onion, and other spices.
This is one of the most utilized herbs in the world and has been cultivated for over 3,000 years. The word coriander is derived from koris; the Greek word for bedbug. The plant is said to emit the same unpleasant odor as these pests. Once the seeds are set, the herb's scent becomes more pleasantly citrus. In Biblical Palestine the dried coriander seeds were chewed for bad breath, and they are used in some breath freshners today. Early European monks used the seeds to flavor liqueurs.
Coriandrum sativum is an annual in Tehachapi that grows to about three feet tall and a...
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