MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Motoring
  • Video
MensHealth
  • News
  • Health
  • Fitness
  • Sex
  • Nutrition
  • Style
  • Weight Loss
  • Life
  • Podcasts
  • Motoring
  • Video
Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

How Many Carbs Are In A Sweet Potato?

How Many Carbs Are In A Sweet Potato?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

FYI You Probably Don't Need To Eat More Protein

FYI You Probably Don't Need To Eat More Protein

{headline}

{headline}

The Best Christmas Gifts For The Foodie

The Best Christmas Gifts For The Foodie

Are Plant-Based Protein Substitutes Healthier Than Meat?

Are Plant-Based Protein Substitutes Healthier Than Meat?

Strong Beer May Have Similar Gut-Friendly Bacteria To Yoghurt

Strong Beer May Have Similar Gut-Friendly Bacteria To Yoghurt

{headline}

{headline}

Seriously Hate Veggies? Blame Your Genes

Seriously Hate Veggies? Blame Your Genes

5 Of The Best Foods For Your Brain

5 Of The Best Foods For Your Brain

Study Finds Tomato Compound Could Improve Male Fertility

Study Finds Tomato Compound Could Improve Male Fertility

The Diet Changes That Helped James McAvoy Bulk Up To Play The Beast

The Diet Changes That Helped James McAvoy Bulk Up To Play The Beast

Why Intermittent Fasting Is More Than A Passing Fad

Why Intermittent Fasting Is More Than A Passing Fad

Everything You Need To Know About Getting Protein On A Plant-Based Diet

Everything You Need To Know About Getting Protein On A Plant-Based Diet

Jamie Oliver Shares The Two Major Changes Behind His 12kg Weight Loss

Jamie Oliver Shares The Two Major Changes Behind His 12kg Weight Loss

  1. Home
  2. Life

The Science Behind Why You Hate Coriander So Much

This explains everything - by Lucy Bode
  • 25 Mar 2019
The Science Behind Why You Hate Coriander So Much

It’s no secret that coriander is damn divisive. Love it, or hate it, you’re bound to have a strong opinion about whether or not it’s perfectly acceptable to pepper your plate with it.  

And for years, we’ve merely speculated about why the leafy green herb causes so many to turn up their noses. But now, we finally have a definitive answer: it’s hard-wired into our genes.

The Office Thank You GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

“We have smell receptors in our nose that are responsible for identifying volatile compounds in the atmosphere, including volatile compounds released from potential foods,” explains Professor Russell Keast, a specialist in sensory and food science at Deakin University. 

“Sense of smell is highly variable between people, so what I experience may not be what you experience, and this can be due to quantity, type and natural variations with smell receptors.”

“It’s these receptors that determine what we taste when we eat coriander,” Keast continues.  “Depending on your smell receptors, you may experience a soap-like flavour, rather than the herby flavour others experience.”

RELATED: Chris Hemsworth's Green Super Smoothie Recipe

Sad Jim Carrey GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

Your hatred for the herb could also have been determined by your exposure to it during childhood.

“This is common to different cultures, or flavour principles of a region,” Keast adds. “For example, many Australians have problems with the intensity of fish sauce, yet South-East Asian populations find it an integral part of their flavouring.”

The bad news? If you’re not already a fan, you’re unlikely to come around to the taste. 

“If somebody has the genetic receptor variant and is experiencing high levels of bitterness, having repeated exposure to that food isn’t necessarily going to teach the likening of that food,” Keast concludes.

Case closed.  

  • Nutrition
  • Life
Lucy Bode
Lucy Bode
Lucy is WH’s Digital Editor, Features Writer, social media guru and resident woo. A long black lover and foodie at heart, she considers peanut butter an hourly staple and believes chardonnay is the superior drop. When she's not at the beach, barre or yoga studio you'll find her coming up with new and improved ways to kill her unkillable houseplants

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $36.99

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $36.99

Subscribe Now
Subscribe Now

Recommended to you

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic
Watch 0:10

Bjornsson Deadlifted 1,026 pounds On The Elephant Bar To Win 2020 Arnold Classic

{headline}

{headline}

How Many Carbs Are In A Sweet Potato?

How Many Carbs Are In A Sweet Potato?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

Is Popcorn A Healthy Snack?

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

8 Mistakes To Avoid If You're Doing A Ketogenic Diet

FYI You Probably Don't Need To Eat More Protein

FYI You Probably Don't Need To Eat More Protein

{headline}

{headline}

The Best Christmas Gifts For The Foodie

The Best Christmas Gifts For The Foodie

Are Plant-Based Protein Substitutes Healthier Than Meat?

Are Plant-Based Protein Substitutes Healthier Than Meat?

Strong Beer May Have Similar Gut-Friendly Bacteria To Yoghurt

Strong Beer May Have Similar Gut-Friendly Bacteria To Yoghurt

{headline}

{headline}

Seriously Hate Veggies? Blame Your Genes

Seriously Hate Veggies? Blame Your Genes

5 Of The Best Foods For Your Brain

5 Of The Best Foods For Your Brain

Study Finds Tomato Compound Could Improve Male Fertility

Study Finds Tomato Compound Could Improve Male Fertility

The Diet Changes That Helped James McAvoy Bulk Up To Play The Beast

The Diet Changes That Helped James McAvoy Bulk Up To Play The Beast

Why Intermittent Fasting Is More Than A Passing Fad

Why Intermittent Fasting Is More Than A Passing Fad

Everything You Need To Know About Getting Protein On A Plant-Based Diet

Everything You Need To Know About Getting Protein On A Plant-Based Diet

Jamie Oliver Shares The Two Major Changes Behind His 12kg Weight Loss

Jamie Oliver Shares The Two Major Changes Behind His 12kg Weight Loss

MensHealth
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement

Brands

  • Women's Health

Our Network

  • Paragon Media Pty Ltd
© 2021 Are Media PTY LTD
Get more from Men's Health

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe Now-6 Issues just $36.99

Shop This Offer
Subscribe Now