Cilantro: Love It or Hate It?

Do you know what this is?

It's a bunch of cilantro. I have two recipes to post next week - both that contain cilantro. Well, at least as part of the condiment.

And, based on what I've learned about people and cilantro, you are either saying, "YUM YUM YUMMY YUM YUM. Can't wait, can't wait."

or

"GAG ME WITH A SPOON. Note to self: Stay away from Short Stop all next week."

What is it about cilantro?

I tell you, people either love it or hate. Or so it seems.

I am a cilantro convert - apparently a very rare species. I used to be a cilantro-hater. I would pick out every last tiny little bit of a leaf of it if I spotted it in my Mexican food. So would my sister. So does my sister. If you even mention the word cilantro - her face immediately crinkles up in disgust.

"That stuff is nasty", she says as she shakes her head.

One of my very good friends feels exactly the same way as my sister.

My other sister, however, can't get enough of it. In an "OH, THE BLESSINGS GOD HAS SENT US FROM ABOVE, this stuff is amazing on everything. I want to be laid to rest on a bed of cilantro leaves so that I can be surrounded by it for eternity" kind of way.

Her husband - cilantro-hater.

Following a discussion between me and my sister's college friends regarding her absolute loathing of cilantro, I called my sister and told her what we'd discussed. The next morning, she sent me an email. It only contained a link:

ihatecilantro.com.

Of which its contents caused me to laugh so hard I could hardly breathe.

In describing the taste of cilantro, here are some of the responses the "members" - of which there are 3,110 (OMG!) - posted on the site:

Rancid, metallic green perfume.
Grass and nickels.
Old dirty dishrags.
a cigarette if you ate it.
kerosene and mint.

There is a section where members have written haikus (Yes, HAIKUS!) about their utter disdain for cilantro:

in a single word
i describe the evil plant:
abomination.

Spice of the devil
Cilantro contaminates
A perfect salsa

And, so - I must ask our little community here:

Do you LOATHE cilantro? or

Do you absolutely LOVE it?

Are any of you of the very rare "Eh, it's ok. I could take it or leave it" group? or

Are you, like me, a convert - hated it, but it grew on you over time and really like it now?

I'm so very curious.

So, come on out and share your thoughts all ye who have encountered this controversial little herb - lovers, haters, shoulder shruggers, and converts.

I wanna know who I'm dealing with here.