ParsleyMediterranean, Middle Eastern, European and American cooking. Its leaves are used in a very similar fashion to coriander (coriander is also known as Chinese parsley or cilantro) although parsley does not have a strong taste like coriander.

The two types of coriander used are curly leaf and Italian or also known as flat leaf coriander. Curly leaf parsley is used more for decoration, particularly to formal dishes rather than for its taste whereas flat leaf is used more for flavor. The flat leafed version tends to have a stronger taste because of its chemical make up. It has more essential oil contained. Some people prefer to use curly leaf parsley because they like that particular flavor as it compliments certain dishes.

Many dishes in Europe and west Asia incorporate the use of parsley as a garnish, which is chopped up and put on top of the dish. It is a favorite with fish dishes. Tabbouleh, which is the national dish of Lebanon, has to be served with parsley and in Southern Europe, it is used to flavor, salads, soups, stocks and different sauces. It is also used sometimes as a breath freshener due to it being highly concentrated with chlorophyll. It has been said to help and aid the immune system.

Parsley should be grown in a deep pot as this reflects the ideal condition to grow it in because it has a long taproot. To be grown indoors, it requires at the very least, five hours of sunlight. Parsley tea is also drunken by people used as a diuretic by enhancing the sodium and water excretion and also encourages potassium reabsorption. Some herbologists claim that it helps high blood pressure when taken in a tea form and Cherokee Natives use it as a tonic to help make the bladder strong. If one gets a mosquito bite, it can reduce the itching if one crushes it and rubs it on the skin.

It is known as one of the world's most popular herbs. Although it is primarily known to be a garnish, it is highly nutritious and for this matter is being used more and more for consumption rather than just for decorating purposes. It is also a source of folic acid giving health benefits too.

During the history parsley was used more medicinally than for food flavor. The Ancient Greeks used it for sacred purposes and used it to adorn public sporting figures and also decorating the tombs of the dead. Although it is unclear when people started to use it as a garnish, it was probably during the Middle Ages in Europe.