In ancient Greece, cilantro’s essential oil was the key component for making perfumes. Egyptians used coriander tea to treat ailments such as urinary tract infections and headaches
Cilantro also known as coriander or dhania (in India), is an aromatic herb with wide, delicate lacy leaves and a pungent smell. It belongs to the apiaceous family also known as the carrot family which comprises of plants like celery, parsley, cumin, parsnip and carrot. All parts of the plant are edible, but the fresh leaves and the dried seeds are the most commonly used in cooking.
Although southern Europe, along the Mediterranean, is often credited as cilantro’s native land, there is disagreement as to the herb’s precise origins. North Africa, India and China have not been ruled out.
Cilantro is most definitely an ancient old world herb. It’s mentioned in Sanskrit and Egyptian texts, as well as the Old Testament and it was an early vagabond along the overland and maritime spice routes through Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Historically speaking, cilantro dates back to the Ancient Greece, where cilantro’s essential oil was one of the key components of making perfume. During medieval times, the Romans used it to mask the smell of rotten meat. The ancient Egyptians used coriander tea to treat ailments such as urinary tract infections and headaches. The crushed seeds and leaves were often used in poultices and salves. Coriander seeds were even found in King Tut’s tomb.
One of the many benefits of cilantro is that it can reduce hypertension by lowering blood pressure. The herb is a good source of potassium, magnesium, calcium, manganese and iron as well as low in sodium. This high potassium and low sodium ratio helps control heart rate and blood pressure. Iron is vital for red blood cell production and manganese is used as a co-factor for the antioxidant enzyme, superoxide dismutase.
A research team of Mexican scientists have been studying the region near Mexico city to identify cheaper ways to filter water. After testing various samples of plants, they determined that cilantro is the most prevalent and powerful bioabsorbant material in the area. Bioabsorption is the scientific term for using organic materials often found in plants, that when dried replace the charcoal used in filters.
Dried cilantro can also be placed into tea bags that are placed in a pitcher of water for a few minutes to suck out the heavy metals. So far, the researchers reported success in removing lead and nickel with their cilantro filters.
Most often cited as being effective for toxic metal cleansing; cilantro is a powerful, natural cleansing agent even for the body. The chemical compounds in cilantro bind to toxic metals and loosen them from the tissue. Many people suffering from mercury exposure report a reduction in the often-cited feeling of disorientation after consuming large and regular amounts of cilantro over an extended period.
Coriander seed is a key spice in garam masala and Indian curries, which often employ the ground fruits in generous amounts together with cumin. It is also the main ingredient of the two south Indian gravies: sambhar and rasam. In fact the favourite of many Indians kitchen, the green chutney that we all love with crispy fried snacks is also made from coriander leaves.
Outside India, coriander seed is an important spice for pickling vegetables and making sausages in Germany and South Africa. In Russia and Central Europe, coriander seed is an occasional ingredient in rye bread as an alternative to caraway.