McDonald’s Coriander raises controversy on social media – 02/22/2022
2 min read
“You want chocolate, strawberry, or caramel frosting.” That’s what McDonald’s servers usually ask when a customer orders a sundae here. But in China, the public has another, more exotic and controversial option: cilantro.
Will you face? The flavor is available in what’s called a McFlurry and features vanilla ice cream, lemon peel, and spice syrup.
According to The Independent, the measure is rigorous and will only last five days in Chinese chain restaurants: from February 21-25.
On social networks, the fallout promises to stay in the memory longer. The green piece caught the attention of the Brazilians, who didn’t spare themselves when commenting at all:
Love or hate? It has nothing to do with that
Does cilantro taste like soap?
Photo: Jennifer Borja / IM
Opinions about cilantro have nothing to do with habit or freshness. The explanation for this discrepancy lies in genetics. To some, the herb popular in Mexican, Indian, Chinese and Northeastern cuisine looks like soap. This perception comes from smell and affects one in five people.
The taste of food is felt only in the palate, and flavor is the union of two or more senses. The smell of ingredients, for example, reaches the bottom of the nose.
There, neurons detect each molecule thanks to the 400 scent-specific genes found in our genome. One of them, OR6A2, produces a protein that identifies aldehydes, the compounds that give cilantro its odor.
According to research published in Nature, conducted by the gene company 23andMe, some individuals are more sensitive to aldehydes. Because of the difference in these genes, cilantro’s “enemies” associate the taste of citrus with the taste of chemicals.
according to Britannica, There is evidence that repeated exposure to spices can make people overcome an aversion. While in China 21% of the population belongs to the “hate” team, in Mexico, where cilantro is a gastronomic mainstay, the proportion drops to 5%.
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