Cilantro, or "Chinese Parsley" are the leaves of the Coriander plant. This herb is known for its pungent flavor, and is often used in Latino, Asian and Caribbean cooking.

There doesn't seem to be a lot of gray area when it comes to people's feelings about cilantro. They either completely love it, and think it's one of the best things they've ever tasted, or they violently hate it. I wonder if there isn't some genetic component involved, making it taste great to some, and horrible to others.

Personally, I don't see the need to get so whipped up about cilantro. Love it or hate it, it's just a plant. Who cares?

Just because I happen to realize it is one of the greatest herbs of all time really doesn't matter. I mean, just because I love it so much I want it to be my secret mistress and make sordid love to it a few times a week, and start paying its rent so it won't tell my wife is really not a big deal. Seriously, there's no need to get so fucking emotional about it! Everyone just needs to relax. There are more important things to worry about.

But people are funny. I've seen them actually get angry in describing how much they despise it. They say it tastes like soap, or burning rubber. There is a French culinary term for those people. If I remember correctly it's L'Dickheads.

But that's the beauty of the culinary world. That's why they make chocolate and vanilla. Arguing about it is silly because there's always something for everyone. Even for the people who are just too stupid to realize what's fucking yummy.