McDonald’s China divides customers with coriander sundae: ‘I’m reporting this for violent and graphic content’

The dessert is being sold for five days only

Saman Javed
Tuesday 22 February 2022 04:12 EST
Comments
McDonald’s has launched a coriander sundae
McDonald’s has launched a coriander sundae (Getty/McDonald’s)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

McDonald’s in China has launched a new limited-edition McFlurry which blends ice cream with coriander.

The sundae combines the fast-food chain’s classic vanilla soft serve with coriander crumbs and is drizzled with bright green lemon and coriander sauce.

Those keen to try the unusual dessert have just a few days to do so, as it is only on sale from 21-25 February, United Daily News reports.

News of the launch has divided social media users, with some eager to try the sundae and others vowing that they “will never eat it”.

A picture of the sundae, shared by Twitter user Daniel Ahmad, has received more than 1,000 replies.

“Cilantro ice cream is really f***ing good,” one person said. “Anyone who hasn’t tried it should - spicy and sweet/creamy, does amazing things on your tastebuds.”

Another wrote: “I’m extremely interested.”

Others were less convinced. “This is a crime against humanity,” one person said.

“I’m literally shaking and crying and throwing up at how offensive this is,” another wrote.

A third said: “If hell exists, I would be force fed this all day long. Seriously though, even if you like cilantro would you want THIS? I puke a little every time I look at it.”

Coriander, known as cilantro in the US, has long been a divisive flavour.

A 2012 study by experts at 23andMe, a genetics testing company, found that there is a genetic component to coriander taste perception.

People who dislike coriander commonly report that it tastes like soap. The study found that those who had the olfactory receptor gene OR6A2 will likely detect a soap-like smell from coriander.

Many Twitter users have expressed their distaste for the herb following Ahmad’s post.

“Might as well just eat a bar of soap,” one person said.

Another wrote: “Now I can have a sundae that tastes like soap.”

“Who cares about pineapple pizza when soap sundae exists,” a third said.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in