PeterLucas wrote on Fri, 27 Feb 2009 21:21:11 +0000 (UTC):

>> Hello All!
>>
>> I think it's pretty well established that there are probably
>> 3 reactions to cilantro: great taste, no taste and soapy taste. A day
>> or two ago the notion was posted to have cilantro enthusiasts
>> hold their noses while eating it to establish whether it was
>> taste or smell. Sorry, to the OP, I can't find the post.
>>
>> Well, I just tried and tho' I like cilantro, when I hold my
>> nose it has no taste or smell.
>>
> It is a well known fact that if your olfactory senses are
> impaired, you cannot taste anything.

> Hence the reasoning behind holding ones nose when you have to
> eat/swallow something that you *know* is going to taste awful.

OK, it seems to be becoming apparent that cilantro has a "odor" that
some are genetically constrained to be unable to detect. Now I wonder
how the soapy taste arises?

--

James Silverton
Potomac, Maryland

Email, with obvious alterations: not.jim.silverton.at.verizon.not