I can't tell by the looks, but I can by the smell. Maybe it is yucky in your area of the country?

I can definitely tell the difference when I smell and taste it. I like parsley but cilantro is a bit too strong to my taste. Al

I can tell the difference in both looks and taste. I love them both, but obviously they have different uses.

I haven't noticed a difference in the cilantro that is available in our stores.

Ann

If I just pick up a bunch of cilantro at the store I can't really get that yummy smell either. But just bruise a leaf and there you go. No mistaking it then.

I'll pinch a leaf and sniff, like Donna does.

I know that at least once I have bought flat leaf parsley instead of cilantro....even though it was labeled cilantro...
I think the people wrapping the bunches are not fully payinga ttention....looks the same, so must taste the same.
Try another store.
Linda C

When I first started buying cilantro years ago I couldn't tell the difference in it and parsley except by the aroma. Now it's easy to tell by looks. It just takes a little practice.

As for the aroma and taste this time of year I've noticed every winter that it has none. I guess it comes from somewhere different in the fall and winter and what is in our stores just has no taste or smell. I think that's what you are experiencing too. Hate it when I can't make a good guacamole. And saying that reminds me too, that this time of year the avocadoes in our stores are watery, not creamy.

I can tell by looks, but I agree with you that right now what's in the stores has no flavor or aroma at all.

Minors makes a cilantro-lime concentrate that restaurants use. A lot of times in the winter, I'll use that instead of the fresh. It's got "stuff" in it, but at least it tastes like cilantro.

It's interesting that the cilantro in your stores isn't smelling as good or cilantro-y this time of year, since this is the only time of year I can grow it here in Texas. Parsley is a bit darker, and the leaves are slightly thicker and a bit bigger than cilantro, at least, that's the way is is in my garden.

Sally

Sally2 - any chance I can get you to overnight some of that homegrown up here?

I'm so happy that other people noticed the lack of smell and taste too. That means it's not me!! I do always rub it between my fingers before I take a whiff. It has barely a faint smell, just enough to know it's not parsley. But taste, none.

I grow both cliantro and parsley, so I can tell the difference between them pretty good. (I love how the tiniest cilantro seedlings have that strong smell). Though, I won't say with 100% certainty that I never bought parsley thinking it was cilantro. It definitely could have happened.

When I grow my own, they smell so differently fresh from the garden. I don't grow much cilantro because DH hates it, but you need it for salsa. Parsley can be substituted, but it doesn't work for me.

I wonder if the store's cilantro had been sitting around for a long time so lost it's taste and smell?
Clare

Sally, the chain grocery stores aren't smart enough to get it from Texas. I'm sure it's from out of the country, just like our Avocadoes are from our of the country.

The only time I have ever really noticed a strong "soapy" cilantro taste in food was when we were in Colombia. Here in SC, it tastes similar to parsley and/or I don't notice it.

Could be the supplier the store uses grows a bland variety, could be it has sat around, could be mislabled. Cilantro sure is an ephemeral pleasure!

Considering every time I go within two feet of a produce bin, the sprinkler comes on, maybe they are watering all the flavor out of it. I'm not serious, of course, but it wouldn't surprise me. Feel like I have to wear a raincoat in the pruduce section sometimes. "course I should be glad my grocery actually still has produce to water. I had to go into "That Place" a couple weeks ago and noticed there was hardly any produce that wasn't sliced, diced, and plastic-wrapped within an inch of existence.