Turkish traditional flatbread enters UNESCO Intangible Heritage List

ISTANBUL

Turkey has entered the top 10 countries with the most items on the UNESCO Intangible Heritage List, with the addition of traditional flatbread during the 11th official meeting. 

During the meeting in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, one national and two multi-national files were presented on behalf of Turkey. 

The “culture of making and sharing flatbread: lavash, katyrma, jupka or yufka” was presented as the multi-national file at the meeting. The decision was made unanimously after Azerbaijan, Turkey, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan appealed to UNESCO.

The culture of making and sharing flatbread carries social functions that have enabled it to continue as a widely-practiced tradition, the UNESCO website states.

Making the bread involves at least three people, often family members, with each having a role in its preparation and baking. In rural areas, neighbors participate in the process together. Traditional bakeries also make the bread, baking it using a “tandır” (an earth or stone oven in the ground), “sac” (a metal plate) or “kazan” (a cauldron).