EditSweet rivalry heats up: Turkey and Azerbaijan push for UNESCO baklava recognition
The layered pastry, with its origins debated across Ottoman, Greek, Armenian, Persian, and broader Middle Eastern and Balkan traditions, is now at the centre of another heritage tussle
In a delicious twist on cultural diplomacy, Turkey and Azerbaijan have filed a joint nomination with UNESCO to inscribe the artisanal knowledge and practices behind baklava (pakhlava in Azerbaijan) on the 2026 Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The layered pastry, with its origins debated across Ottoman, Greek, Armenian, Persian, and broader Middle Eastern and Balkan traditions, is now at the centre of another heritage tussle – because nothing says “shared history” like fighting over who gets official bragging rights for filo, nuts, and syrup.
Lessons from past culinary clashes
History shows these bids rarely go down smoothly. Armenia’s 2014 UNESCO win for lavash bread as an expression of its culture sparked Azerbaijani pushback, leading to a 2016 multi-country listing that embraced flatbread traditions from Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkey and others – everyone claiming a slice of the pie without exclusivity. Similarly, Ukraine secured urgent safeguarding for its borscht cooking culture in 2022 amid wartime threats, only for Russia to mock the move and assert its own beet soup supremacy, turning dinner into diplomatic drama. Baklava’s bid already draws Greek commentary framing it as a counter to Hellenic claims, proving once more that food heritage can be as sticky as the dessert itself.
Why this story matters and what comes next
With baklava’s popularity spanning regions, the nomination underscores how UNESCO listings fuel national pride, soft power plays, and occasional jealousies without creating monopolies. Expect lively reactions from other claimant cultures, media puns galore, and perhaps more joint Turkic culinary campaigns. In the end, whether inscribed or not, baklava reminds us that the best cultural treasures are meant to be shared – ideally over coffee. But don’t say “Turkish coffee” if you are in a Greek restaurant – unless you want to pick a fight with the waiter.
Caption: Pistachio baklava from Gaziantep [Wikipedia]
Updated: June 30, 2026 - 15:36
