Coriander is Britain's best-selling herb

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Britons' love for spicy aromatic Asian dishes has got them hooked to green leafy coriander, which according to a new survey, has now become the undisputed king of the kitchen as the best-selling herb in the country. The herb, which is scattered on curries, baked in breads and simmered in soups, accounts for a quarter of all fresh herb sales, despite having only been grown commercially in Britain since the 1970s.

Basil comes in second with 19 per cent. This is followed by old favourite parsley, both flat-leaved and curly varieties. The country's top ten herb chart was compiled by Fresh Herbs, an organisation representing British herb growers.

Parsley accounts for only 10 per cent of sales and basil 19 per cent. "The popularity of coriander is being driven by our love of curry and Asian food," the Telegraph quoted a spokesman for Fresh Herbs, as saying.

"People have developed a taste for spicy aromatic dishes and are experimenting now more than ever with different fresh herbs varieties," the rep added.