Dave Smith > wrote in news:4008965A.DDA3AFB6
@sympatico.ca:

> Michel Boucher wrote:
>
>>
>> > While you want to argue the semantics of scientific naming; they
>> > were discussing cooking and various tastes as they apply, not
>> > phylogeny. Coriander and dried cilantro have different flavors.
>>
>> So, flavour determines the use of language. Interesting. Why then
>> do you not call coriander seeds something other than coriander seeing
>> as it most likely doesn't taste the same as the root?
>
> It's more than flavour Michel. Cilantro is indeed from a coriander
> plant, but cilantro is commonly the leaves of the plant, and coriander
> refers to the seeds. One is a herb and the other is a spice.

I have not followed the entire thread, and do not want to buy into any
argument, but I would like to point out that your statement here is true
only in some parts of the world. In Australia the word coriander refers
to any and all parts of the plant - coriander leaves, coriander root,
coriander seeds. The bunches of leaves of the coriander plant at the shop
are labelled "coriander". If an Australian recipe calls for coriander the
author generally means coriander leaves and would specify seeds, ground
etc. if that's what they meant.

> Nor does cilantro taste at all like coriander.

Now that would just confuse a lot of Australians <g>. I've seen the odd
question in magazines etc " I have an American recipe which calls for
cilantro. What is it?". The answer of course is that if you see cilantro
in a recipe, buy coriander <g>.

I'm not sure if I've seen the answer to this before. If so, it's a bit of
info that I've forgotten. Can anyone tell me the origin of the use of the
word cilantro for the leaves of the coriander plant in some countries -
from what I can see the US, and Canada??


Rhonda Anderson
Cranebrook, NSW,Australia