They would come from southern Europe or the Near East, but nothing is certain. What is certain is that coriander was a favorite plant of the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. Botanically speaking, what is called a seed, in the case of coriander, is rather abusive; it is more of a fruit. But it doesn’t matter because it is one of the most used spices, especially in marinades, curries, cold cuts, pastries and so on. Surprisingly, its sweet, slightly orange fragrance is much appreciated by beer brewers; they use it abundantly in the making of white and also blonde beer. A tip for use: the coriander seed will gain in flavour if you dry roast it lightly.