Genoa's famous "pestle and mortar pesto sauce" has applied to join UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List, according to the Italian News Agency "AGI".
There are 354 cultural masterpieces listed worldwide, which include six in Italy. The Ligurian regional governmnt, with Genoa's council and the Chamber of Commerce have sponsored the application.
An acknowledgement will safeguard the identity and authenticity of Genoese pesto and enhance the tradition of the home-made pestle and mortar product. It will also prevent actions which threaten the historic and cultural values of these culinary specialties of Liguria. The request refers to practices "relevant to nature and the universe" because of two qualities which characterise Genoa's pesto.
Mortar made pesto is a typical ethnic and anthropological part of Ligurian cuisine, and is also a top-quality and healthy food which is part of the Mediterranean diet, which is already on the Unesco list, AGI reported.