Calling all coriander lovers: Try these 6 coriander items in Singapore
Hear ye, hear ye, coriander lovers: While some might turn up their noses at this divisive green herb, true coriander aficionados know that this uniquely flavoured green is a true culinary gem — it’s fragrant, goes great with a piping bowl of soup or noodles, and spruces up any dish instantly.
We’ve scoured Singapore to bring you six bold coriander-flavoured delights that will make your coriander-loving taste buds sing. So, buckle up and dive in with us on this herby adventure, if you’re ready to take your love for this green herb to the next level.
1. Coriander instant noodles — Bai Xiang
From the green packaging to the grassy-hued dehydrated noodle block, Bai Xiang’s coriander instant noodles is clearly on theme. You might have seen it pop up on your social media crowd feed and as a testament to its popularity, we couldn’t seem to get the cup noodle version at all. Thankfully for this article, we got our hands on the multi-pack. (But hey, the more the merrier, right?)
If you can read Chinese, its label literally reads: “Super fragrant, fragrant, fragrant, fragrant coriander noodles”, so if that isn’t indicative of its fragrance and flavour we don’t know what is.
True to its promise, the noodles on a whole, genuinely delivers on flavour, with a strong coriander-forward taste — don’t worry though, the soup is a spicy beef flavour, so there is some flavour deviation there.
We also loved that each noodle packet comes with two sachets of dehydrated coriander, allowing you to add as much or as little coriander as you want to the noodles. For us, the coriander lovers, we opted to add all of both sachets, ensuring that each bite of the noodles came with a good dose of coriander — quite the dream, if we’d say so ourselves!
You can order Bai Xiang’s coriander instant noodles (from S$9 for the multi-pack) on online platforms.
2. Coriander potato chips — Meadows
Meadows is a cult-favourite among potato chip lovers, well-loved for its low prices (sometimes offered at a low of S$1) and very authentic flavours (remember the truffle chip craze?). It’s no secret that this brand excels at the many flavours it pushes out, so we were extremely excited to see coriander among them.
Upon opening the coriander flavour potato chips pack, we were hit with a delightful aroma of spices and a subtle hint of coriander’s signature scent. We expected a strong coriander flavour in the chips, but while it is flavourful, it is not in the least bit overpowering. In short, the chips were fragrant, slightly sweet owing to the spice mix, and as usual, very addictive — we think that even non-coriander lovers might like this.
You can find these chips (S$1.20) at Cold Storage outlets islandwide.
3. Coriander drink — Yelemon
The Arcade, 01-12, 11 Collyer Quay
Open: Monday to Friday (10.30am to 7pm), Saturday (10.30am to 3pm)
We’ve got the mains and snacks covered, now it’s time to wash all of that down with a refreshing cooler and Yelemon’s coriander lemon refresher (S$4.90) does the job well.
The flavour first started as an April Fool’s prank this year by Yelemon and quickly became a customer favourite over time, even earning a spot as one of Yelemon’s best-selling drinks.
Coriander is the clear star of this drink, but fret not, the infamous soapy aroma is nowhere to be found. Instead, the shop uses the delightfully citrusy notes of pounded Guangdong perfume lemon to balance out the typically strong taste of coriander.
True to its name, Yelemon’s drink is the perfect drink to perk yourself up on a hot, drowsy day. Want even more coriander in your cup? Just ask!
4. Coriander cocktail — Hue Restaurant
123 Tyrwhitt Road
Open: Monday to Wednesday (6pm to 10.30pm), Thursday and Sunday (12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 10.30pm), Friday and Saturday (12pm to 3pm, 6pm to 11.30pm)
This one’s for all the boozy lovers: Hue restaurant, a Thai spot at Lavender serves up a coriander-infused cocktail known as Kingdom of Ayutthaya (S$20), a gin-based concoction served with loads of, well, coriander.
The drink is made with coriander-infused Botanist gin and sweetened with Cocchi Americano Bianco, resulting in a refreshing, palate-cleansing drink. The drink’s name is a nod towards the Kingdom of Ayutthaya being a flourishing hub of herb and spice trade centuries ago.
If you’re making your way down to Hue to try this unique, herbaceous cocktail, we’d also recommend the Three Little Pigs (S$19). It’s a take on the crispy pork belly stir-fried with the three common herbs used in Thai cooking: Garlic, coriander and chilli with a touch of white pepper — the perfect complement to your coriander cocktail.
5. Coriander cake — Baker’s Brew Studio
Multiple outlets islandwide.
Open: Operating hours vary across stores
First launched as a limited-offer pop-up, the OG coriander cake has remained on Baker’s Brew menu for about three years now. Whether initially intended as a prank or not, it has proven to be in demand.
The cake is available in ten different flavours, ranging from yubari melon to strawberry speculoos, with the fresh pile of coriander on top a constant feature no matter the flavour. If you have a mixed group of friends who are enjoying the cake, and have some who dislike coriander (we can’t imagine why!), the garnish can easily be removed. On the other hand, coriander enthusiasts will find the herb the icing on the cake (pun intended).
You can surprise a loved one by ordering this unique cake at S$78 for a 6-inch cake. It can also be customised to include a dedication note, or be ordered in the form of a cupcake.
6. Coriander hotpot soup — Coca
Multiple outlets islandwide.
Open: Operating hours vary across stores
There isn’t a better way to showcase your love for coriander than to go all out and have it as a hotpot base at Coca — this is especially for those who always find that there’s never enough coriander topping on your hotpot soups.
Coca incorporates a generous portion of coriander to its double-boiled treasure chicken soup, infusing the broth with a touch of herbaceous freshness. Its coriander soup base also reportedly comes with a slew of health benefits such as improving digestion and lowering blood sugar, so it’s the perfect excuse to persuade your non-coriander-loving friends to get onboard.
The coriander soup base can be added on for free if you’re enjoying Coca’s buffet, or S$18.40 if ordered a la carte. If you’re a hardcore coriander-phile, you might also want to make sure to double-check with the outlet that the coriander soup base is available when making your reservation to ensure the restaurant has it in stock.
Got a special date coming up? Check out our selection of date spots for every foodie type or refer to our list of the latest openings in town
Yelemon, Hue, Baker’s Brew and Coca are on the GrabFood Delivery Service and offer free delivery (up to S$3 off with GrabUnlimited).
Do explore the GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.
You can also book a ride to satiate your coriander cravings in Singapore.
Chang Qi
Author
Chang is in an everlasting relationship with food and tries to have fun every now and then.
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