Cozy: Which foods are protected by UNESCO?

We are sure that you have heard that some historical structures such as the Egyptian pyramids or the Great Wall of China are under the protection of UNESCO. But did you know that the organization and some objects are under the auspices of the intangible cultural heritage?

By the way, in this list there are even national dishes from different countries.

The main criterion for the inclusion of delicacies in the list is unique in the context of national culture. The tradition of cooking should have a long history and should in part form people’s self-awareness and uniqueness. We suggest you find out which dishes have become the property of UNESCO.

Armenian lavash

Lavash is not just a treat and an addition to the table. Its preparation is a complete ritual for all Armenian families. There is even a legend that it is customary to sing while kneading the dough, then it will be absolutely delicious. All you need is water, flour and salt. The process is like an assembly line. Each of the women has their own role – one rolls the dough, the other – tosses it from hand to hand so that the cake is as thin as possible. Well, the third takes it to the oven. Traditional bread has been prepared in Armenia for more than 5 thousand years.

tacos

All Mexican cuisine is under UNESCO protection, but tacos deserve special mention. The organization decided it was important to focus on preserving the recipes of a cuisine that dates back to the ancient Mayan and Aztec tribes. Tacos were prepared by locals long before the Spanish invaded their territory. The dish is a corn tortilla with various fillings: beef, chicken, pork, vegetables and gravy. And don’t say you don’t want it.

North African couscous

Couscous is one of the oldest dishes in the world, a symbol of North America. And despite the very poor agriculture on the mainland, this did not prevent the inhabitants from creating their own national dish. Several durum wheat varieties are used to prepare couscous, and the process itself is called the “Evening technique”: the grains are mixed in a large flat dish, sprinkled with salt water and rolled from side to side. As a result, balls are obtained, which are then sifted through a fine bristle sieve, the grains remaining in the container are steamed.

Licitar

Licitar is a heart-shaped gingerbread cookie you’ve probably seen at Christmas markets. However, he comes from Croatia. The recipe for making gingerbread is passed down from generation to generation by the people of this country. A special taste is obtained due to the long maturation of the dough and its long drying time after cooking.

Naples pizza

Anyone who considers himself a fan of Italian cuisine should know that there are several types of pizza – Roman and Neapolitan. The latter is included in the UNESCO heritage list. Its main difference from others is a thin dough with puffy edges and breathable. Neapolitan pizza is traditionally garnished with selected San Marzano tomatoes, fresh seafood and natural mozzarella cheese.

filling

Dolma – almost the same cabbage rolls, only with white grape leaves instead of cabbage. Ground beef is wrapped in them, and then everything is left to rot in water or broth. By the way, there are still disputes about which country this dish belongs to – Azerbaijan, Armenia or Georgia. Personally, we are in the first place, especially since in other countries the dish is even pronounced as “tolma”.

Rice

The list of protected objects also includes Uzbek pilaf, because it is here that the dish is considered an integral part of folk culture. You will be surprised, but it has been prepared since the 5th century. Pilaf is served both as a daily meal and on special occasions. When preparing for some kind of celebration, spices and ingredients are often added to the rice according to the theme of the event.

A kind of local Korean food

For Koreans, this dish is one of the main symbols of the country. It has a rich history dating back to the 1st millennium BC. The most popular kimchi is made from specially pickled Beijing cabbage. There are many variations of the dish, but we know the most common spicy version. By the way, as you might guess, our analogue of this dish is sauerkraut. As they say, choose your fighter.

arabic coffee

We are all used to drinking coffee on the run, but for the peoples of the East such an attitude towards this drink is unacceptable. Arabs are used to tasting it in small sips. Only freshly roasted finely ground coffee is used, the water is clean, fresh, unboiled and sugar cubes are preferred. In the process of preparing a drink, everything is important: from choosing the best varieties of cereals to preparing a meal.

Belgian beer

Of course, it may seem strange that a beverage of German origin is not on the list, but the truth is that around 900 different brands of beer are produced in Belgium, some of which are 500 years old. And, as mentioned above, the main selection criterion for the UNESCO list is uniqueness in the context of national culture. A variety of beers is not a luxury, but compliance with the law, where more than 20 beers must be displayed in every supermarket.

Text: Vladlena Korol