In The Brutal Telling, we meet Jakob, “the Hermit”, a secretive Czech recluse who lived for more than a decade in an isolated log cabin hidden deep in the woods near Three Pines. Jakob lived in a cabin filled to the brim with antique treasures from all over the world – along with window boxes filled with thriving plants.
“A wheelbarrow with some dirt and a shovel stood halfway along the path and at the far end there sat a chair of bent branches, with comfortable and faded cushions. It was inviting and Gamache had an image of the man working in the garden, then resting. Sitting quietly in the chair.” – The Brutal Telling
Some of the plants that the Hermit grew included:
- Nasturtium: Named for the Latin words for Twisted Nose, which may derive from the pungent taste of these edible plants.
- Cilantro: The leaves of Coriander, Cilantro is native to the Mediterranean region and evidence of the plant was found in King Tut’s tomb along with – among other treasures – the pharaoh’s embalmed organs.
- Rosemary: Another native of the Mediterranean Region, Rosemary has been popularized in songs by Simon & Garfunkel and the Grateful Dead.
Cilantro is a divisive herb. Do you like it or do you think it tastes like soap?
40 replies on “The Gardens of Three Pines: The Hermit’s Garden”
I am also one who gets the soap taste (which runs in my family). Have to watch out when ordering dishes from restaurants. Any recipe that calls for cilantro I swap out for parsley.
Cilantro is hard to describe, but sort of citrus and sweet. It’s good with a twist of lime, and with corn tortillas. It has a much brighter taste than parsley. (Although, that might be different for everyone, too.)
How would you describe the taste of cilantro? I am one of those who gets the soap taste, so I am curious what the thing really tastes like.
Absolutely lovely
Yes- there is a small percentage of the population to whom cilantro tastes like soap. Myself included! It is genetic apparently.
I don’t tolerate fresh cilantro at all . The smell even makes me nauseous. Weird that freeze dried isn’t a problem. Nor is coriander.
I use cilantro a lot. Love it and love the scent on my hands after I’ve torn the leaves from the stems.
Cilantro tastes like soap to me!
I love cilantro. LOVE it. I’ve started putting it in all kinds of things, such as salsa, salads, on hamburgers, as garnishes. I’m 75 and only discovered it about three years ago and now container grow it on my deck during the summer months!
Love cilantro! And love these gardens too! Can’t wait for the new book!