In the bible, coriander is compared with manna. The Chinese associated it with immortality and it is mentioned in Sanskrit texts and has been recognised as an important culinary and medicinal herb since early times.

It was highly regarded as an aphrodisiac from the times of the early Greek, Roman and Egyptian civilisations to the Middle Ages when it was an ingredient of love potions. Hipocrates made a number of mentions of coriander’s application in medicine.

In some areas coriander leaves are referred to as cilantro and it is at times confused with parsley, sometimes being referred to as Mexican parsley or Chinese parsley. Coriander is not to everybody’s liking. I like it. I like it with fish.

Some commonly refers its taste as “soapy”. Its aroma in the garden can be unpleasant, particularly when disturbed, the derivation of coriander being from the Greek word koris meaning stinky bug