Mexican cuisine: heritage of humanity.
by Julieta Del Toro
Last Tuesday, on the the 16th of November, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) officially declared Mexican cuisine to be part of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
The UNESCO meeting, held in Nairobi, Kenya, approved this initiative as well as two others corresponding to our country: la pirekua (traditional purépecha song) and los parachicos (a traditional festival of Chiapa de Corzo, Chiapas).
Last year, Mexican cuisine was presented to the committee as a candidate, but was not approved. However, Alfonso de Maria y Campos, general director of the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH) and his team of collaborators persisted, and this year with the support of the Grupo Maseca, they were successful in obtaining the recognition.
Having chile, corn and beans as a base, Mexican gastronomy has been recognized internationally and has become one of the favorites of gourmets worldwide.
Due to its diverse gastronomic regional history, techniques and recipes (many of them ancient and passed down over generations), Mexican cuisine is synonymous with national pride.