Which country is the largest producer of coriander?
In this brief guide, we will address the query, “Which country is the largest producer of coriander?” We will also discuss what kind of climatic condition is suitable for coriander, where it originated from, and how it was introduced and spread throughout the world. Moreover, we will also describe where coriander seeds come from and how we can grow them.
Which country is the largest producer of coriander?
India is the largest producer of coriander. India is not just the top producer of coriander, but it also takes the position of topmost consumer and exporter of coriander among other spices. Approximately 80% of the total coriander produced is from India.
This doesn’t come off as a surprise given the prominent use of different forms of coriander in Indian cuisines. Some of the other important coriander-producing countries include China, Afghanistan, Indonesia, Iran, Turkey, Tanzania, and Bulgaria.
What kind of climatic conditions are required to produce coriander?
Coriander grows well in a variety of soil types, but it thrives in well-drained loam, fairly fertile, and fine-textured soils. The pH of the soil should range from 6.5-7.5 while the optimum temperature required for favorable growth is 18 degrees celsius.
The coriander plant is well suited to tropical and subtropical climates. Coriander demands a chilly temperature while growing and a warm, dry climate when mature. For high-quality coriander seeds, it is best advised to grow them in cool climates.
Where did coriander originate from?
Coriander herb, which is now native to Southern Europe, was imported from the east by the Romans. Coriander originated from Italy but today it has spread out to different parts of the world.
It is widely cultivated in the Netherlands, Central and Eastern Europe (including Russia and Hungary), the Mediterranean (including Morocco, Malta, and Egypt), North Africa, China, India, and Bangladesh.
How was coriander introduced and spread throughout the world?
Coriander is one of the oldest herbs known to mankind. It has been cultivated and used for different purposes since ancient times.
It was said to be cultivated by the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans, incorporated in Hippocratic medical cures and even used to describe the flavor of manna in the Bible’s Book of Exodus; the earliest archaeological remains date to around 6000 BC in Israel.
Since then different types of coriander have been spreading throughout the world like wildfires. Coriander entered the South-East Asian market via two routes: forms with ovoid fruits arrived from India, while forms with small, globular fruits arrived later from China. Forms with enormous, globular fruits were just recently imported from the Mediterranean or Europe.
It was said that the Romans introduced the species into Britain where it was used for different culinary as well as medical purposes. Likewise, it was already introduced to the French people by the 17th century.
Where do coriander seeds come from?
Coriander seed comes from the plant Coriandrum sativum, a member of the parsley family. It is also commonly known by names such as Chinese parsley, dhaniya, or cilantro. Coriander powder or ground coriander is made from the dried seeds of the coriander plant.
Many people confuse coriander with cilantro. Usually, the term coriander is used for the spice while cilantro refers to the leaves. Both the seeds as well as the leaves are widely used in cooking all over the world.
The coriander plant blossoms and produces small white flowers and clusters of tiny seeds. The seeds are harvested and used for spice while the leaves are mostly used for garnish.
How can we grow coriander for seeds?
If you’re growing coriander for the seeds, it is important to prepare them well before taking them to the field. Prepare the seeds by gently crushing and soaking them in water overnight before sowing. Let the seeds dry and sow them in moist, cool, and well-drained soil during early spring.
Plant the seeds in rows with appropriate spacing (about 8 inches apart) and half-inch depth. Keep irrigating the fields regularly until the coriander plant nears maturity.
When they reach maturity, the feathery leaves quickly lose their distinctive flavor and sprout tiny white umbels of flowers on top. Those white blossoms mature into coriander seeds. Let the entire plant dry and harvest the seeds when they are light brown.
Make sure the seeds are completely dry before you harvest them. Cut the heads, wrap them in a paper bag to avoid the scattering and falling off of seeds and leave the seeds to completely dry in an airy spot with lots of sunlight.
You can store the coriander seeds in a cool and dark place. You can save the seeds to sing them in the next season or you can use them to spice up your recipes.
For more information on growing cilantro indoors, please click the link here.
Conclusion
In this brief guide, we have addressed the query, “Which country is the largest producer of coriander?” We have also discussed what kind of climatic condition is suitable for coriander, where it originated from, and how it was introduced and spread throughout the world. Moreover, we have also described where coriander seeds come from and how we can grow them.
Citations
https://ndpublisher.in/admin/issues/EAV59N3c.pdf
