Cilantro and coriander come from the plant species — Coriandrum sativum (1Trusted Source).

However, they are named differently in different parts of the world.
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In North America, cilantro refers to the leaves and stalks of the plant. The word “cilantro” is the Spanish name for coriander leaves. Meanwhile, the dried seeds of the plant are called coriander.

Internationally, it’s a different story. Coriander is the name for the leaves and stalks of the plant, while the dried seeds are called coriander seeds.

To avoid confusion, the rest of this article refers to the leaves and stalks of the Coriandrum sativum plant as cilantro and the dried seeds as coriander.

Despite coming from the same plant, cilantro and coriander have significantly different nutrient profiles, tastes and uses.

This article will help you understand the differences between cilantro and coriander.

hey Taste and Smell Different
Interestingly, cilantro and coriander have different tastes and aromas.

Cilantro is an herb with a fragrant, citrusy flavor. Many people enjoy its refreshing taste and aroma, but others can’t stand it. Interestingly, people that find cilantro repulsive tend to have a genetic trait that makes them perceive cilantro as “foul” or “soapy” (5Trusted Source).

One study looked at the proportion of people from different ethnicities that dislike cilantro.

They found 21% of East Asians, 17% of Caucasians, 14% of people of African descent, 7% of South Asians, 4% of Hispanics and 3% of Middle Eastern participants disliked cilantro (5Trusted Source).

On the other hand, coriander appears to have a less polarizing taste and smell. Its aroma is best described as warm, spicy and nutty, with a hint of citrus. The spice is commonly paired with cumin and cinnamon because they share similar flavor traits.

SUMMARYCilantro has a fragrant, refreshing and citrusy taste and aroma, while coriander has a warmer, spicy and nutty taste and aroma. Interestingly, some people may have a specific genetic trait that makes them perceive cilantro differently.
They Have Different Uses in Cooking
The different properties of cilantro and coriander have led people to use them differently in recipes.

The refreshing, citrusy taste of cilantro leaves has made them a common garnish in South American, Mexican, South Asian, Chinese and Thai dishes.

Fresh cilantro is typically added just before serving, since heat can quickly reduce its flavor.

Cilantro Dishes
Here are some dishes that contain cilantro:

Salsa: A Mexican side dish
Guacamole: An avocado-based dip
Chutney: A sauce of Indian origin
Acorda: A Portuguese bread soup
Soups: Some may call for cilantro as a garnish to enhance their flavor
Conversely, coriander seeds have a warmer and spicier taste and are commonly used in dishes that have a spicy kick.

Coriander Dishes
Here are some dishes that contain coriander:

Curries
Rice dishes
Soups and stews
Meat rubs
Pickled vegetables
Borodinsky bread: A sourdough rye bread of Russian origin
Dhana dal: Roasted and crushed coriander seeds, a popular Indian snack
Dry roasting or heating coriander seeds can enhance their taste and aroma. However, ground or powdered seeds lose their flavor quickly, so they’re best enjoyed fresh.

Can You Substitute Coriander for Cilantro?
Due to their different taste profiles, cilantro and coriander cannot be used interchangeably.

In addition, because the word “coriander” can refer to the seeds or the leaves, you may have to do some detective work when you’re following a new recipe that calls for it.

If you find a recipe that calls for “coriander,” make sure to check how the ingredient is used to find out whether the recipe is talking about the leaves and stalks, or the seeds of the plant.

SUMMARYCilantro has a more refreshing and citrusy taste, which is why it’s commonly used as a garnish in many recipes. In contrast, coriander has a more warm and spicy taste, which is why it’s more commonly used in curries, rice dishes, soups and meat rubs.
Possible Health Benefits of Cilantro and Coriander
Several studies have linked cilantro and coriander to some impressive health benefits.

However, most of these findings are from test-tube or animal-based studies. Although they are promising, more research in humans is needed.

Here are some possible health benefits that cilantro and coriander share.

May Reduce Inflammation
Both cilantro and coriander are packed with molecules called antioxidants.

Antioxidants are thought to help reduce inflammation in the body by binding to and suppressing inflammation-promoting molecules known as free radicals (6Trusted Source).

One animal study found that the antioxidants in a cilantro extract helped fight skin aging. Skin aging is often accelerated by free-radical damage (7Trusted Source).

Furthermore, a test-tube study found that the antioxidants in a coriander seed extract reduced inflammation and inhibited the growth of cancer cells from the stomach, prostate, colon, breast and lungs (8Trusted Source).

While these studies are promising, more human-based research on the antioxidant benefits of cilantro and coriander are needed.

May Reduce Risk Factors for Heart Disease
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide (9Trusted Source).

Some test-tube and animal studies have shown that cilantro and coriander may reduce several of its risk factors (10Trusted Source, 11Trusted Source).

One test-tube study found that cilantro extract may reduce the formation of blood clots. By reducing blood clotting, cilantro extract supplements may potentially reduce the risk of heart disease (10Trusted Source).

Moreover, one animal study found that a coriander seed extract significantly reduced blood pressure. In addition, it encouraged the animals to eliminate more water and salt through urine, which further helped reduce blood pressure (11Trusted Source).

May Lower Blood Sugar Levels
Having elevated blood sugar levels is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes (12Trusted Source).

Surprisingly, both cilantro and coriander seeds may help reduce blood sugar levels. They’re thought to do this by increasing the activity levels of enzymes that help remove sugar from the blood (13).

In fact, in one animal study, scientists found that animals that received coriander seeds had significantly less sugar in their bloodstreams (13).

In another animal study, cilantro leaves were shown to be nearly as effective as a diabetes medication at reducing blood sugar levels (14Trusted Source).

While these results are promising, more human-based research is needed on how cilantro and coriander affect blood sugar levels.

May Help Fight Infections
Test-tube studies have shown that the antimicrobial and antibacterial properties of both cilantro and coriander may help them fight infections (15).

One test-tube study showed that compounds from fresh cilantro leaves helped fight foodborne infections by killing bacteria such as Salmonella enterica (16Trusted Source).

Another test-tube study showed that coriander seeds fight bacteria that commonly cause urinary tract infections (UTIs) (17).

However, there is currently no evidence that coriander or cilantro can help fight infections in humans, so more human-based research is needed.