What is the Difference Between Cilantro and Culantro

Cilantro and culantro are two herbs that most people often get confused because of their similar names and flavors. Both add a fresh, citrusy taste to food and belong to the same plant family. However, cilantro and culantro are not the same.

What is the difference between cilantro and culantro? Cilantro has soft, leafy green tops with a mild flavor, while culantro has long, jagged leaves and a much stronger, more pungent taste.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Cilantro  
     – Definition, Features
2. What is Culantro
     – Definition, Features 
3. Similarities Between Cilantro and Culantro
     – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Cilantro and Culantro
     – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Cilantro and Culantro
     – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Cilantro, Culantro, Herbs

What is Cilantro

Cilantro is a green leafy herb with a fresh, bold flavor. It looks very similar to parsley. That’s because cilantro belongs to the same plant family as parsley. It is sometimes called Mexican or Chinese parsley. It’s used in many cuisines around the world, especially in Mexican, Indian, Middle Eastern, and Asian dishes.

Fresh cilantro has a bright, slightly tart taste with hints of lemon and pepper. However, when it’s cooked or dried, its flavor becomes much weaker. Cilantro is a good source of antioxidants and may offer several health benefits.

Some people (about 4 to 14 percent of the population) say cilantro tastes like soap. This is due to a natural chemical in the leaves called an aldehyde, which is also found in soap and some insects. People who taste the soap-like flavor usually have a certain gene that makes them more sensitive to this chemical.

What is Culantro

Culantro is a leafy green herb that grows low to the ground, with long, thick leaves arranged in a rosette, similar to how lettuce grows. The plant can grow up to 1 foot tall, and its leaves can be about 2 inches wide. If left to grow fully, it produces a small blue flower. Culantro belongs to the same plant family as carrots, celery, parsley, and parsnips.

This herb has a strong smell and flavor, which is why it’s usually added to dishes while cooking. The heat helps mellow out its intense taste. It’s commonly used in both cooking and traditional medicine.

Culantro is native to tropical areas in the Americas and the West Indies. It’s different from cilantro. Culantro is also known by many names, such as spiny cilantro, long-leafed coriander, and saw-toothed mint.

Similarities Between Cilantro and Culantro

• Both cilantro and culantro are green leafy herbs used to add flavor to food.
• They belong to the same plant family, Apiaceae, which also includes parsley, celery, and carrots.
• Both are used in soups, stews, sauces, and marinades.

Difference Between Cilantro and Culantro

Definition

• Cilantro is a leafy green herb with a fresh, citrusy flavor, commonly used in Mexican, Indian, and Asian cooking, whereas culantro is a tropical herb with long, jagged leaves and a strong, bold flavor, often used in Caribbean and Latin American dishes.

Appearance

• Cilantro has delicate, flat, lacy green leaves that look very similar to parsley. Culantro, on the other hand, has long, thick, saw-toothed leaves that grow in a rosette pattern, similar to lettuce.

Flavor and Aroma

• Cilantro has a fresh, citrusy, and slightly peppery flavor. Culantro has a much stronger and more pungent taste and smell, which becomes milder when cooked.

Usage in Cooking

• Cilantro is usually added raw or at the end of cooking to preserve its fresh flavor, whereas culantro is typically added during cooking, as its bold flavor softens with heat.

Growing Climate

• Cilantro grows best in cooler weather and tends to bolt quickly in heat, while culantro thrives in hot, tropical climates and is more tolerant of high temperatures.

Origin

• Cilantro is native to the Mediterranean region, while Culantro is native to the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.

FAQ: Cilantro and Culantro

1. Do cilantro and culantro taste the same?

Cilantro and culantro have a similar flavor, but culantro tastes much stronger and more intense. Cilantro is lighter and fresher, while culantro has a deeper, more pungent taste.

2. Can I substitute culantro for cilantro?

Yes, you can substitute culantro for cilantro but use less because culantro has a much stronger flavor. It’s better in cooked dishes where its bold taste can mellow out.

3. What is the English name for culantro?

The English name for culantro is longleaf coriander or spiny coriander. It’s also sometimes called sawtooth herb because of its jagged leaves.

4. What do Asians call culantro?

Vietnam, it’s called Ngò gai, which means “thorny coriander,” and it’s often used in dishes like pho. In Thailand, culantro is called “phak chee farang,” which means “foreigner’s coriander.”

Reference:

1. “Cilantro: What It Is and How to Use It.” All Recipes.

2. “What is Culantro?” The Spruce Eats.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Cilantro plants” By HitroMilanese – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia

2. “Culantro (Eryngium foetidum) 5” By Mokkie – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia