The Princess of Wales rarely discusses her culinary preferences during public engagements, but she made an exception earlier this week while visiting Bobby's restaurant in Leicester as part of a day marking the Hindu festival of Holi.
Prince William's wife, 44, sampled a host of treats during her visit, including one with coriander. This herb is often considered a 'Marmite' food, as while it appears in plenty of popular dishes, many people avoid it altogether due to its bitter taste.
Kate gives her verdict
"Is this coriander?" Kate asked while trying some of the food on offer, and once it was confirmed that the dish contained the herb, she grinned and said: "I love coriander and chilli."
© Getty ImagesIt's certainly a positive that Kate likes the unpopular herb, as BANT-registered nutritionist Hannah Alderson tells us that it has real nutritional value.
Benefits of unpopular food Kate loves
"With coriander, it really is love or hate, and there is actually a genetic profile for this! If you hate it, it can taste just like soap, but coriander is fab as its leaves are rich in polyphenols and antioxidants that help protect cells from oxidative stress," Hannah tells us. "It also contains vitamin C, vitamin K and small amounts of potassium and folate, which support immune health and cardiovascular function."
© GettyHannah also explains that what makes coriander particularly interesting nutritionally is its role in digestion. "Traditionally, it has been used as a digestive herb, and modern research suggests compounds within coriander may support gut motility and reduce bloating," she says. "It also has mild antimicrobial properties, which can support a healthy gut environment."
If coriander isn't usually for you, but you are keen to incorporate it more into your diet, Hannah says you can add it to dishes at the end. "From a nutritional profile, coriander works best when used fresh and added towards the end of cooking to preserve its flavour and nutrients. It's incredibly versatile and can easily elevate everyday meals."
Kate settles an age-old debate
The princess also settled a classic British debate during her day in Leicester regarding the best way to take your tea. While tasting chai tea, she was asked by the restaurant owner, Lakhani's wife Enna, "Would you like sugar in your tea?" She responded, "No, thank you", and instead opted for milk. After sipping the drink, which contains cinnamon, cardamom and other spices, she remarked that it was "lovely".
© Getty ImagesThe royal wasn't exaggerating when she admitted that she loves chilli. In fact, in 2023, William and Kate discussed their preference for cooking curry while appearing on BBC Radio 1, with the prince admitting: "I can't do too much spice, I start sweating. It's not attractive!"
© GettyMeanwhile, Kate added: "Whereas I like the spice, so I have to sort of cook the curry and then add the spice, extra spice at the end.
