Cilantro Leaf 425mg | 60 capsules | Swanson

Swanson Cilantro Leaf

Cilantro leaf, known in many countries as coriander, is the fresh green herb found in Mexican and Asian cuisine. Swanson's Cilantro makes it a standalone supplement: 425mg of dried cilantro leaf per capsule, from the Coriandrum sativum plant. This is the whole leaf in powdered form, for those who wish to supplement with this herb separately.

Leaf, not the seed

With cilantro, it's important to distinguish between two parts of the same plant. The seed, coriander seeds, is used as a spice and has a warm, somewhat citrusy flavor. The leaf, which is called cilantro in English, tastes very different: fresh, herbaceous, and to some people, a bit soapy. This product contains the leaf, not the seed. So it's about the green foliage of Coriandrum sativum, the same part used as a garnish and flavoring in dishes. Swanson dries and grinds this leaf into a powder and puts it into a capsule. This distinction is more than a detail, because the leaf and seed are used for very different things in cooking. Those looking for cilantro leaf typically want the fresh foliage and not the warm spice that comes from the seeds. This product aligns with that, containing only the dried leaf, purely the foliage of the plant.

Full Spectrum whole leaf

Swanson calls this a Full Spectrum herb. This means that the dried, ground cilantro leaf is included as a whole in the capsule, and not a concentrated extract of a single substance. This way, you get the natural proportion of what is in the leaf, as it occurs in the plant. The difference with an extract is that a whole herb stays close to the original plant, while an extract magnifies a specific component. The 425mg on the label refers to the amount of dried cilantro leaf per capsule, and that amount remains consistent per capsule.

From kitchen herb to capsule

What many people don't know: fresh cilantro leaf quickly loses its potency and doesn't keep well in the refrigerator for long. In dried, ground form, the herb has a longer shelf life and is easier to take in a consistent dose. The leaf is combined with only microcrystalline cellulose as a filler and an anti-caking agent in the capsule. The capsule itself is made of gelatin, so this product is not plant-based. This way, you have the herb in a compact form readily available, regardless of the season. Fresh cilantro leaf is also heavily dependent on supply, whereas a dried herb provides the same measure all year round. The powder is sealed in the gelatin capsule, so you can supplement with the leaf at home without cutting, washing, or storing.

How to take cilantro leaf

A frequently asked question: how much cilantro do you take per day? Swanson recommends two capsules per day with water. With 60 capsules per bottle, you have about a month's supply. Please note that this is a standalone herbal supplement and not a substitute for a varied diet. In short: cilantro leaf is the fresh kitchen herb also known as coriander, here as a whole leaf in a capsule with 425mg of dried leaf per piece.