Attention all cilantro lovers! Your prayers have been answered, as Pizza Hut has just unleashed the ultimate pizza experience that will leave your taste buds in a frenzy. On Monday, Pizza Hut announced that it released a new pizza featuring a thick layer of cilantro on top of it.
What is Pizza Hut’s cilantro pizza?
Officially called the Too Much Cilantro Pizza, Pizza Hut’s newest pizza innovation is topped with prawns, tomato paste, yangnyeom sauce, and a generous heap of cilantro. According to the restaurant chain, each slice of the pizza has at least three stalks of the pungent herb.
Why did Pizza Hut release a cilantro pizza?
Considered a divisive herb, cilantro is either loved or disliked by people. Some people enjoy its fresh, citrusy flavor and use it in a variety of dishes, while others find its taste and smell overpowering, even describing it as soapy or unpleasant. Given the herb’s polarizing nature, why did Pizza Hut decide to develop a cilantro pizza?
Pizza Hut said it designed the Too Much Cilantro Pizza as part of its bigger plan to update its branding and attract more younger consumers. “The moment you open the box, you’ll be surprised by the fragrance,” the restaurant chain said in a press release. “It’s a non-standard amount of cilantro to which Gen Z can’t help but say: ‘Wow, it’s like grass is growing’.”
Where to buy Pizza Hut’s cilantro pizza
The Too Much Cilantro Pizza is available in limited quantities from March 20th to April 9th at 251 of 520 Pizza Hut outlets in Japan.
On Monday, Pizza Hut Japan shared a TikTok video of its marketing team proposing the Too Much Cilantro pizza to Pizza Hut Japan’s president, Shoichi Nakamura. You can watch the video below:
@pizza_hut_japan
The cilantro pizza only comes in medium size, which is roughly 10 inches in diameter. Listed as one of the over 100 “eccentric” marketing ideas by Pizza Hut Japan, the pizza sells for $19 per pie if purchased via takeout and around $21 if delivered.
What is cilantro?
Cilantro, also known as coriander in some parts of the world, is a herb that is commonly used in cooking, particularly in Latin American, Caribbean, and Southeast Asian cuisine. It is the leaves and stems of the coriander plant and has a fresh, citrusy flavor that is often described as a cross between parsley and citrus. Cilantro is commonly used as a garnish for dishes such as tacos, soups, and curries, and is also a key ingredient in many salsas, chutneys, and sauces. In addition to its culinary uses, cilantro is also believed to have a range of health benefits and is rich in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals.
Why does cilantro taste like soap to some people?
While some people dislike cilantro simply because of preference, there are people who hate the herb because it tastes like soap. According to a study of 30,000 people in 2012, the split perspective of people about cilantro could stem from genetic differences. Those who hate cilantro reportedly have a variation in a group of olfactory-receptor genes that allows them to strongly perceive the soapy-flavored aldehydes in cilantro leaves.