Coriander

High school (ages 12+)
Food & Cooking

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/coriander

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the botanical classification?Annual herb in the Apiaceae family (Coriandrum sativum)
2. What is the geographic origin?Mediterranean Basin and southwestern Asia
3. Why does coriander taste soapy to some people?Some people have a special gene called OR6A2 that makes them very sensitive to chemicals in coriander leaves, so they taste soap or metal instead of citrus.
4. What parts of coriander are used in cooking?The fresh leaves (called cilantro in North America) are used in salads and salsas, the dried seeds are ground into a warm, nutty spice, and the roots are used in Thai dishes for a strong flavor.

Apiaceae Family: A diverse family of flowering plants, commonly known as the carrot or parsley family, often aromatic.
Olfactory Receptor Genes: Genes responsible for producing proteins that detect odor molecules in the nose.
Genetic Polymorphism: The occurrence of two or more different forms of a gene within a population.