Coriander also known as 'yuen sai' in Chinese and 'ngo ri' in Vietnamese is an annual growing to 30 cm in height. Seeds are directly sown and the plants harvested when 5 weeks old or at about 15 cm. The leaves are bright green in colour and are spherical in shape with lobes. It resembles the parsley plant but its leaflets are smaller, more delicate in texture and more hemispherical in shape. They are always flat and produce a distinct scent.
Fresh coriander is readily available in supermarkets and most grocery outlets.
They are usually sold as small plants 10-15 cm long with the taproot still attached or bunched in bundles. Coriander is a native of the Mediterranean and has been used since early times. Its seeds are used in the Middle East and the leaves used in India, China and Mexico. Coriander is used as a garnish by cooks and by herbalists as medicine. In Chinese medicine, coriander is considered warm, pungent, expanding energy with the ability to aid digestion and to stimulate blood circulation.