Chipotle Has A Cilantro Soap And It’s Unbelievably Popular
Chipotle released a cilantro soap bar that is unbelievable popular among both lovers and haters of the herb.
This article is more than 2 years old
In one corner, you have those who think the wonderous herb cilantro has no equal. They think to cook with it is paramount to great tasting foods and its delicious aroma makes the taste buds tingle. Then there are those who somehow feel that cilantro tastes like soap. Soap? Well, leave it to the restaurant chain Chipotle to bring those two thoughts together with the Chipotle soap they are calling the Cilantro Soap Bar.
Before we get into the nuts and bolts of the new Chipotle soap, were any of you out there aware of the fact that Chipotle had their own swag store? Seriously. You can grab items like t-shirts, tops, jackets & coats, hats, activewear, and yes, even the uber-popular Cilantro Soap Bar. Eat your heart out on Amazon.
Laugh if you will, you are most welcome to, but believe it or not, the Cilantro Soap Bar is one of Chipotle’s most popular items for sale. How popular, you inquire? Well, the Chipotle soap sells for $8 a bar, and one day after its launch, the soap sold out. Gone. Fini. Auf wiedersehen. No more.
While you won’t find it in the Chipotle store (which they call Chipotle Goods) at the moment, its surprising popularity is sure to have the restaurant chain scrambling to get more. The 4-oz bar of soap (a pricey price to pay for such a thing) is made with saponified organic oils that include olive, flaxseed, shea, and coconut, as well as essential oil of coriander, and chlorella algae powder.
As it is described via The New York Post, it is “the perfect gift for cilantro lovers and haters alike. Just be sure they don’t eat it.” What at first appeared to be a joke back in August when Chipotle posted a photo of the cilantro soap on their Instagram account, soon became a reality when the number of haters and fans of the herb responded in droves.
Chris Brandt, Chipotle’s Chief Marketing Officer said in a statement that making the real thing (Cilantro Soap) “plays into a larger trend of turning digital moments into real-life experiences.” Was he right. The green herb has been a most polarizing ingredient among Chipotle ingredients and the restaurant chain has made their position well known to their customers, especially those who don’t care for the herb.
First off, Chipotle reached out to the decriers of cilantro in 2019 when they tweeted, “A moment of silence for the people who think cilantro tastes like soap.” Most recently, the chain chided them in July by tweeting “Not liking cilantro is something you should keep to yourself.”
According to studies from nature.com, for 4 to 14% of our general population think that Cilantro tastes like soap. Cilantro comes from the same plant as the coriander, another herb that many find repulsive. While they both come from the same plant, they have a different aroma and taste, and most times are used in vastly different dishes. Cilantro is popular in Salsa, Chutney, Guacamole, and soups. You will find coriander in dishes like Curry, meat rubs, pickled vegetables, rice dishes, and soups and stews.
The Chipotle soap was not the only news made by the restaurant chain. They also recently launched in their store some clothing that has been dyed with avocado pits, of which the restaurants produce over 300 million per year. Not only can you get an avocado pit-dyed crewneck sweatshirt for $47, but for the little ones, you can purchase a onesie for $14.
Also making Chipotle news were the changes they made to their menu this year. In Cincinnati, Ohio, and Sacramento, CA, they are testing Pollo Asado, which marks the first time the chain has messed with its chicken in almost 30 years. Another big menu item that has found massive popularity is smoked brisket. It has become so popular that it will be leaving the menu sooner rather than later.
Keep your fingers crossed, cilantro lovers, that Chipotle’s Cilantro Soap will be back in stock soon. Remember, though, don’t eat it.
