Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) is a summer delight that offers much more than just great taste to a summer salad or to top off a soup, kitchari, or gazpacho.
Typically, cilantro is planted in the early spring or early fall for some fresh late-summer cilantro. You can continue to enjoy cilantro from your garden all summer as long as you are harvesting the tops regularly. Otherwise, the summer heat will force the plant to bolt with a long stalk and go to flower and seed. You may want to allow a handful of your cilantro plants to bolt and go to seed (coriander) through the summer, but keep the other plants edible by harvesting the new leaves all summer to get the best of both worlds. The more you harvest (clip) the leaves, the more leaves will grow.
The seeds of cilantro are called coriander and are only harvested in the summer. And, as nature loves to offer us foods to antidote the extreme of each season, coriander is no exception. While cilantro and coriander are both very cooling for the summer, according to Ayurveda, coriander is actually a refrigerant and a thirst quencher when made into a cool tea. I have recommended coriander tea for years for runners and tri-athletes who compete in the hot summer sun.
Coriander also offers a powerful boost to the digestive system in the summer months when digestion tends to be a bit weaker. Amazingly, nature dials down the digestive fire in the summer so as not to overheat the body internally. The idea is that the sun heats and cooks the foods while on the vine or in your garden, so that there is no need to fire up the digestive furnace in the summer – this, of course, applies if you are in the habit of eating seasonally-harvested foods.
Cilantro is a source of vitamins A, K, and C, as well as copper, manganese, iron, magnesium, and calcium. (1) Coriander seeds have been shown to support healthy blood sugar levels and arterial and cardiovascular health, (2) and the bioactives of this plant contain antimicrobial, antioxidant and detoxifying qualities. (3-5)
Cilantro, which is sometimes called “Chinese parsley,” has been used for thousands of years as a natural blood purifier and detox agent. In one study, cilantro was found to help detox lead from the body. (6)
Cilantro contains a natural antibacterial compound that may fight Salmonella, a frequent and sometimes deadly foodborne illness, according to a study published in the June 2004 issue of the Journal of Agriculture and Food Chemistry. (7)
Make a Cooling, Summer Detox Tea
- Cilantro Tea: You can steep a tablespoon of cilantro leaves in a cup of hot water and flavor it with a pinch of raw honey if you like. Or make a larger quantity as a sun tea. Add some cilantro seeds to boost the cooling properties.
- Coriander Seed Tea: Steep 1 teaspoon of whole cilantro seeds in a cup of hot water and flavor it with either raw honey, stevia or orange peel. Coriander seed tea makes a great sun tea as well.
Coriander/Cilantro Actions
- Taste (rasa) – Sweet, bitter, astringent, pungent
- Energy (virya) – Cooling
- Doshic action – Balances vata, pitta and kapha. Strongly reduces pitta.
>>> For more information on on the digestive benefits of coriander seeds, see my article “Five Spices to Rock your Digestive World.”
Enjoy cilantro and coriander as a tasty, cooling summertime gift from nature! What are your favorite summertime recipes using cilantro and coriander?
Meg says
Didn’t like cilantro. But after oil-pulling for some time, I started to like fresh cilantro leaves. Maybe the detox effect makes the leaves taste bad until ya cleared some ground?
jual bibit mamey sapote unggul says
Hi, always i used to check weblog posts here early in the daylight, since i like to learn more and more.
Kala says
John,
You are a wonderful source of Ayurvedic knowledge, as a spiritual wellness coach for women suffering from burnout, i find useful info here that I can share. Simple additions of calming cooling herbs along with pranayama’s I teach, help women to feel less stressed and be happier as a result. Thank you.
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Kala,
Thank you for your kind words. We are so happy that all of Dr. Douillard’s efforts to share Ayurvedic knowledge for free have found you. Keep up the good work!
Be Well.
Fayette says
Thank you for the info. I never realized coriander was the seed of cilantro. I have been trying to eat more cilantro since I found out it help to detoxify lead. I never ate much of it before I became a food warrior, but I even put it in my morning smoothie when I have extra handy. I have been adding it to rice when I know my daughter will be eating with me because she worries about lead. I followed the link to the 5 spices and that was awesome!
Tina says
Hi I am to loose my weight but it seem that is not working I have been trying very had do what I can and even eating health food cut down so much but steel can’t loose so please Dr D gave me your opinion thanks
John Douillard says
Hi Tina,
I know how frustrating that can be. There could be many reasons that the weight is not coming off. Have you read Dr. John’s (free) Ayurvedic Weight Balancing eBook? It is available to download here: https://lifespa.com/ayurvedic-weight-loss-ebook/
If you need more personalized advice, I would recommend a consultation with Dr. John or Tauna. https://lifespa.com/about-lifespa/clinic/ayurvedic-consultations/
jane says
Thanks for this great post on Cilantro – I’ll definitely be more mindful to eat more based on this info 🙂 … (I don’t eat it often enough.)
Like Maria, I also enjoy making cilantro pesto; I use pumpkin seeds, lemon, EVOO and garlic. Since I never finish a batch of pesto before it turns brown I’ve started to freeze the leftover in little silicone molds, then pop the cubes into a zip lock baggie. It freezes very well and is so convenient to use as I need it without having to make a new batch.
Anne says
Any suggestions for those of us who don’t like cilantro (there are those of us for whom it tastes much like soap!)? Is parsley a helpful substitute?
Maria says
Thanks for the great article about the benefits of this tasty plant. I like to make pesto (dairy free for me) in my mini-prep food processor and keep a little jar in the fridge to add to or smear on food as desired. I do have a plant that I tried to pinch back enough to keep it from bolting, but It got away from me. How far back should it be pinched to keep the leaves growing?
John Douillard says
Hi Maria,
Cilantro pesto sounds wonderful! Thanks for the suggestion.
Because cilantro has such a short life cycle, it is easy to let it bolt. It is often recommended to plant new seeds every 2 or 3 weeks to maintain a steady supply of the leaves.
To make the most of the tasty foliage, pinch the plant back about an inch. If your see flower buds beginning, cut of the top of the main stem.
Hope that helps. Happy gardening!
Caroline says
I live in the southwest US and there is cilantro in so many dishes during summertime here. Whether it be in a fresh salsa, guacamole, ceviche, on a bowl of beans and rice, the possibilities are endless. So delicious too!
jane says
Ceviche is a great idea!
Janet Chaikin says
The last time I was food shopping, I knew I wanted to have some cilantro. I just read this article and made the tea with some honey, and it is wonderful! Just what the doctor ordered! I think my body really needs it right now. And I don’t think this bunch will go to waste, as sometimes happens when I’ve bought cilantro in the past. Thank you, Dr. D.
Infj Hsp says
Someone linked me to your site regarding gymnema for diabetes. I have diabetes 1 so am interested in this. I’m guessing there are different qualities and forms of taking it ? Can you suggest what the best way to use it is, which product etc ?
Greetings,
Infj Hsp
Robert says
My friend is losing weight. He takes a antacids before each meal. I think this can cause the loss. Any thoughts on this association?
John Douillard says
Decreased appetite or loss of appetite are a known potential side effects of antacids. Has he found that he is eating less as a result of the antacids?