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Description
Coriander comes from Coriandrum Sativum, which is a plant in the parsley family. It is the round, dried, ripe seed that is tannish brown in color and has alternating straight and wavy ridges. Coriander has a slightly sweet, mild flavor and aroma that is a zesty blend of lemon and sage. It is thought to increase the appetite.
Fresh Coriander Seeds On Coriander Tree.
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Origin
Coriander is produced in Morocco, Romania and Egypt. India and China also produce some of this spice. Coriander from Morocco is considered superior as it has the boldest appearance and flavor, followed by the Egyptian and Indian varieties of Coriander. Coriander that comes from Romania and China is the darker variety that other types.
The history of the spice, Coriander, can be traced back for thousands of years. Coriander has been known as early as 5000 BC. Coriander is probably one of the first spices used by mankind. Sanskrit writings dating from about 1500 BC also spoke of this spice. In Persia, Coriander was grown 3000 years ago. It was used to fragrance the hanging gardens of Babylon. The Romans spread this spice throughout Europe. Coriander was one of the first spices to come to America. The popularity of Coriander grew as the civilization grew and spread.
Besides being used in various cuisines, Coriander is also used in Gin and American cigarettes.
Use
Since the olden times, Coriander has been used as a condiment. It has also been used as an ingredient in medicines due to its medicinal properties. In India, it is still widely used in cough and tonic medicine.
Coriander is used in various cuisines from around the world, such as Mediterranean, North American, Indian, Mexican, North African and South East Asian cuisines. Coriander cannot be used in place of Cilantro or vice-versa, although they are from the same plant, Coriandrum Sativum. Ground Coriander is used in both sweet and savory dishes. It's used in variety of dishes like desserts, curries, seafood dishes, meats, stews, soups, marinades, lentils, beans, potatoes, sausages, chili, hotdogs, onions and more. Coriander is also a quite common ingredient in various spice blends like garam masala, curry powder, chili powder and berbere. Another use of Coriander is in Gin and American cigarettes.
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