The humble baguette 害羞草研究所� the crunchy ambassador for French baking around the world 害羞草研究所� is being added to the U.N.害羞草研究所檚 list of intangible cultural heritage as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity.
UNESCO experts gathering in Morocco this week decided that the simple French flute 害羞草研究所� made only of flour, water, salt, and yeast 害羞草研究所� deserved United Nations recognition, after France害羞草研究所檚 culture ministry warned of a 害羞草研究所渃ontinuous decline害羞草研究所� in the number of traditional bakeries, with some 400 closing every year over the past half-century.
The U.N. cultural agency害羞草研究所檚 chief, Audrey Azoulay, said the decision honors more than just bread; it recognizes the 害羞草研究所渟avoir-faire of artisanal bakers害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所渁 daily ritual.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t is important that such craft knowledge and social practices can continue to exist in the future,害羞草研究所� added Azoulay, a former French culture minister.
The agency defines intangible cultural heritage as 害羞草研究所渢raditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants.害羞草研究所�
With the bread害羞草研究所檚 new status, the French government said it planned to create an artisanal baguette day, called the 害羞草研究所淥pen Bakehouse Day,害羞草研究所� to connect the French better with their heritage.
Back in France, bakers seemed proud, if unsurprised.
害羞草研究所淥f course, it should be on the list because the baguette symbolizes the world. It害羞草研究所檚 universal,害羞草研究所� said Asma Farhat, baker at Julien害羞草研究所檚 Bakery near Paris害羞草研究所� Champs-Elysees avenue.
害羞草研究所淚f there害羞草研究所檚 no baguette, you can害羞草研究所檛 have a proper meal. In the morning you can toast it, for lunch it害羞草研究所檚 a sandwich, and then it accompanies dinner.害羞草研究所�
Although it seems like the quintessential French product, the baguette was said to have been invented by Vienna-born baker August Zang in 1839. Zang put in place France害羞草研究所檚 steam oven, making it possible to produce bread with a brittle crust yet fluffy interior.
The product害羞草研究所檚 zenith did not come until the 1920s, with the advent of a French law preventing bakers from working before 4 a.m. The baguette害羞草研究所檚 long, thin shape meant it could be made more quickly than its stodgy cousins, so it was the only bread that bakers could make in time for breakfast.
Despite the decline in traditional bakery numbers today, France害羞草研究所檚 67 million people still remain voracious baguette consumers 害羞草研究所� purchased at a variety of sales points, including in supermarkets. The problem is, observers say, that they can often be poor in quality.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 very easy to get bad baguette in France. It害羞草研究所檚 the traditional baguette from the traditional bakery that害羞草研究所檚 in danger. It害羞草研究所檚 about quality not quantity,害羞草研究所� said one Paris resident, Marine Fourchier, 52.
In January, French supermarket chain Leclerc was criticized by traditional bakers and farmers for its much publicized 29-cent baguette, accused of sacrificing the quality of the famed 65-centimeter (26-inch) loaf. A baguette normally costs just over 90 euro cents (just over $1), seen by some as an index on the health of the French economy.
The baguette is indeed serious business. France害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淏read Observatory害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� a venerable institution that closely follows the fortunes of the flute 害羞草研究所� notes that the French munch through 320 baguettes of one form or another every second. That害羞草研究所檚 an average of half a baguette per person per day, and 10 billion every year.
The 害羞草研究所渁rtisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread害羞草研究所� was inscribed at the Morocco meeting among other global cultural heritage items, including Japan害羞草研究所檚 Furyu-odori ritual dances, and Cuba害羞草研究所檚 light rum masters.
害羞草研究所擳homas Adamson, The Associated Press
