Cilantro vs parsley-how to know

[piggerz]

This is gonna sound weird, but how can you tell the difference between parsley and cilantro? The market I buy from, tends to just rubber band them, with no identifying band. I have a bad sense of smell, so not sure I can tell the difference that way. I know cilantro is better than parsley and would really like to try feeding that because they love parsley so much.

Also, does Italian Parsley have the same calcium content as regular parsley?

Piggerz

[Fay]

Parsley and Cilantro look different but also taste different. Cilantro has a strong taste and smell when you eat it it tastes a bit like an Orange while Parsley tastes fresher and less strong.

Parsley:




Cilantro:



As for the differences in amount of calcium in different parsleys I wouldn't know but I guess the amount can't be that much different. I think it would be best too use the guidelines suggested on the nutrition chart and give it in small amounts about 2-4 times a week. If you notice more calcium deposits on the fleece cut down the amount.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

That's the curly parsley though, no? They have the flat/Italian parsley too.

[JarBax]

I buy curly leaved parsley - so the difference is more obvious. Unfortunately, my piggies hate coriander (cilantro), though I keep trying. They run away after a sniff! All four of them! Flat leaved parsley does have the same calcium content as curly parsley - though the benefits of cilantro (sometimes called Chinese parsley) is in the low calcium/high vitamin C content(must keep trying!)

I tell the difference by smell - I imagine that if your sense of smell is impaired, then your sense of taste wont be great either - as that is the other quick test! I suggest you either ask the stall holder which is which, buy both and study them closely at home, then come back on here and tell us all what the difference is!

[JarBax]

cilantro

flat leaved parsley

The cilantro does look like it has a more serrated edge to the leaf - though leaves grown further down the stem are 'smoother' edged. I think you just have to ask!

[Fay]

My pigs love Cilantro luckily!

[piggerz]

Thank you all for your reply and help. I was sniffing them last night, and just couldn't smell anything different. I guess I'll have to print off your pictures and just take them with me to the store. There was no one in the produce dept last night when I left the store (I work there).

Piggerz

[JarBax]

Did you rub the leaves before sniffing? Bruising the leaves brings out the smell!

[this_lil_piggy]

Ditto Jarbax... If you can't smell it good, try rubbing the smell onto your fingers. Cilantro has a distinct smell to it--It is a twangy metal sort of smell that just turns my stomach inside out--I cant stand it. I can't pick up a bundle of cilantro and smell the odor much though, I have to actually get the smell on my hands. Parsley has little to no smell to me.

Another good way to tell is
Cilantro has an almost 3 leaf clover appearance--rounded clover shaped leaves with serrated edges. It doesn't get more pointed sort of leaves until it goes to seed.
The leaves of parsley have a more oval/pointed appearance with serrated edges.
Cilantro also tends to have a slightly lighter green tone to it than parsley.
See the comparison pics attached:

[Fay]

If you have trouble smelling the difference try tasting it! Cilantro tastes a bit orange bitter like. Has a very distinct (disgusting) smell and parsley smells and tastes lovely... not too stronge. Could it be that you happen to have two sorts of parsleys and that that is why you can't tell the difference? I can't imagine not being able to taste or smell the difference because Cilantro Stinks haha!

[Terekins]

Maybe what you have isn't cilantro--it smells very strong. In fact the smell makes me a little sick to my stomach. Around here, parsley is darker than cilantro, so that's an easy way to differentiate them.

[piggerz]

I actually found some cilantro that was marked the other day so I brought it home. I'm going to try to do a side by side comparision/smell/taste test, so I can see. By the way, the boys love cilantro too.

Thank you for all the pictures and help!

Piggerz

[cookie_gal]

Note: cilantro is also known as Coriander.

[heatherbunnie]

Yes that cilantro smells so terrible! Fortunately my piggies love it. But at the grocery store I go to also, the labels are always all mixed up, and usually the people working don't even know the difference. Haha I must look like an idiot because sometimes when I'm not sure which is which I start smelling everything because you can't miss that cilantro smell.

[CavyMom&ChinDad]

That's how I tell too! My fiancee asked me to give them something other than coriander - the stuff stinks up my entire refridgerator. It doesn't really bother me, but it is definitely strong. That answer probably doesn't help you much - your best bet is definitely to ask someone that works there. Best of luck!