Ever wonder why some foods are just universally adored while others seem to have a more polarized set of opinions? Take cilantro for example. Proponents of this pungent green garnish are usually passionately approving of its taste whereas others (such as yours truly) simply abhor the flavor entirely.
Up until now, we've generally accepted a 'different-strokes-for-different-folks' explanation for this difference in taste and shrugged off this discrepancy as a matter of preference. It would now seem, however, that there is evidence to support that one's cilantro disposition could be genetic.
A Study conducted by the University of Toronto of a sample of over 1,400 young adults showed a correlation between cilantro preference and certain ethnic groups. The study showed that individuals of an East Asian background (the segment in which I fall into) tend to dislike the garnish more than most with 21% expressing their dislike of cilantro. People of Middle Eastern ethnicity appear to be more fond of cilantro with roughly 3% of that segment declaring their distaste for the herb.
While there appears to be a definite correlation between ethnic background and a propensity toward cilantro, it has still yet to be determined whether or not there is a specific gene that creates an aversion to cilantro in certain individuals.
[THX and Photo Credit to Wikimedia Commons]
