Baku, Ankara launch joint UNESCO bid for ‘baklava’
In a coordinated bid for sweet recognition, Türkiye and Azerbaijan have jointly nominated “baklava” and “pakhlava” for UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage status.
The joint dossier requests that the pastry be registered under its two commonly used names, reflecting the shared culinary traditions of both countries. A final decision on the application is expected during the 21st UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee meeting, scheduled to take place in Xiamen, China, from Nov. 30 to Dec. 5.
If approved, the inscription would formally recognize the dessert as part of the intangible cultural heritage of both Türkiye and Azerbaijan.
The nomination comes amid longstanding debates over the origins and cultural ownership of baklava, particularly between Türkiye and Greece.
