A bunch of coriander

[Tait-ka]

Can I ask which of the following ways you would call the above?

1) a bunch of coriander
2) a bunch of coriander leaves
3) a bundle of coriander
4) a bundle of coriander leaves

 

[5jj]

I would probably use (1).

 

[emsr2d2]

Can I ask Which of the following ways you would you call the above?

Note my improvements to your question above. There's no reason to introduce a simple question with "Can I ask". Just ask the question using the standard question word order ("would you" in your case). Using "ways" doesn't work with the verb you chose. You could have said "In which of the following ways would you describe the above?" We don't "call" something [in] a way.

 

[Tait-ka]

Thanks for the corrections @emsr2d2.

Why would you not use 2, 3 and 4?

 

[emsr2d2]

Thanks for the corrections @emsr2d2.

Why would you not use 2, 3 and 4?

Because "a bunch of [name of herb]" is pretty much a set phrase. There's no need to use "leaves" with something like coriander. What else would it be? We can't have a bunch of coriander seeds because it's impossible to put them in a bunch. I don't think I've ever heard herbs being described as being in a bundle, not least because a bundle is usually bigger than a bunch.

In case you're interested, a bunch of different herbs all tied together and designed to throw in to a cooking pot as they are (still tied) is called a "bouquet garni". Yes, it's French. No, we don't have an English term for it.

 

[Glizdka]

NOT A TEACHER
------------

We can't have a bunch of coriander seeds because it's impossible to put them in a bunch.

What about the more generic meaning of the word bunch, as in the examples below from Cambridge Dictionary:

They're a bunch of jerks.
Your friends are a nice bunch.
We ate a whole bunch of grapes.
They’re a nice bunch of people.
I’ve got a bunch of things to do.

Would this sentence, uttered by someone shocked and dissatisfied with how much a small packet of coriander seeds costs, make sense?

"$12 for a bunch of coriander seeds?! Their prices are nuts!"

 

[emsr2d2]

NOT A TEACHER
------------

What about the more generic meaning of the word bunch, as in the examples below from Cambridge Dictionary:

They're a bunch of jerks.
Your friends are a nice bunch.
We ate a whole bunch of grapes.
They’re a nice bunch of people.
I’ve got a bunch of things to do.

Would this sentence, uttered by someone shocked and dissatisfied with how much a small packet of coriander seeds costs, make sense?

"$12 for a bunch of coriander seeds?! Their prices are nuts!"

I would say no. We'd say "Twelve quid for a packet of coriander seeds?!" or maybe "Twelve quid for a few coriander seeds?!" The number of seeds in a packet isn't enough to constitute a bunch.
I find it odd to see the "grapes" example in the middle of that list. All the others use "bunch" as an alternative to another word but "a bunch of grapes" is actually what it's called!

 

[Skrej]

In the US (and maybe all of North America) 'coriander' refers strictly to the seed. The plant (as pictured) is referred to as 'cilantro'. I'd call the picture a bunch of cilantro.

For anyone not familiar with it, the leaves and seeds have very different flavors. The seeds are usually ground into a powder for ease of use. The leaves are very potent, the seeds much less so. People seem to either love or hate cilantro.

Fun fact about cilantro: That strong flavor from cilantro comes from a chemical compound known as an aldehyde, which is also found in soaps (and some bug repellents).

A small percentage of people have a particular genetic variation making them highly sensitive to aldehydes, so the herb tastes overwhelmingly like soap to them. Those of us without the variation get the fresh and (albeit still strong) citrus-like taste.