Turkey and Azerbaijan have submitted a joint application to UNESCO seeking recognition of baklava as an Intangible Cultural Heritage item, presenting the dessert as part of their shared culinary traditions.
The application reportedly lists the sweet under both “baklava” and “pakhlava,” framing it as a common cultural element between the two countries. A final decision is expected at a UNESCO committee session scheduled for November 30 to December 5 in Xiamen, China.
If approved, baklava would be formally recognized as part of the shared cultural heritage of Turkey and Azerbaijan.
The move comes amid long-running international debates over the dessert’s origins. Greece also claims baklava as part of its culinary heritage, alongside Turkey and Azerbaijan.
