Spain Calls for Tapas to be Recognised on Unesco Cultural
Heritage List
Tapas, from the ingredients involved to the dining method
itself, is aiming to be recognised by Unesco.
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| Tapas are a wonderful way to eat |
Spanish food can be found all over the world in many
different forms and varieties including ranging from El Bulli’s experimental
cooking to the simple bags of frozen paella found in a supermarket. Tapas is
perhaps the most famous form of Spanish cuisine.
Tapas has become so prolific in UK restaurants, mostly due
to the influx of Spanish nationals flocking to Britain as a result of the
Spanish economic crisis, that tapas being sold in supermarkets has seen a sales
increase of 40% year after year since 2013.
One of the reasons that tapas has become such a favourite is
that there is a lot of variety including flavours and textures and portion
sizes. The affordability of tapas also helps. Tapas has become such a favourite
that the Spanish Royal Academy of Gastronomy has asked Unesco to put tapas on
the list of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Plenty of people will know Unesco for their work with
promoting historical sites and protecting them. They also offer protection for
different cultural assets such as “intangibles” including living practices,
skills, and artisan craftsmanship specific to a country.
The president of the Royal Academy of Gastronomy, Rafael
Anson, says that Tapas is the very model of food. He believes that pizza by
itself would not be considered intangible but the entire Mediterranean diet is.
He added that restaurants in spain and tapas is also a way of eating. He was the
driving force of the push to see the recognition of tapas and considers the
project to be very advanced.
Anson said that while it will be up to the Ministry of
Culture to formally present the idea to Unesco he has spoken to them himself
and they are considering it.
Unesco has already recognised the Mediterranean diet as
being a cultural heritage asset. Unesco also considers Flamenco and the human
towers of Catalonia to be cultural heritage assets too. Tapas would definitely
belong on a list like that. Italy is already trying to ensure that tapas isn’t
the only food on the list. While pizza itself isn’t enough to count Naples is
attempting to have the art of Neapolitan pizza making admitted by Unesco.
