Rome, Europe Brief News – Italy’s espresso is a prized social and cultural ritual. Thus, the country considers it as a national heritage worthy of UNESCO status.
“The espresso is an excuse to tell a friend you care,” says Massimiliano Rosati, owner of the Gambrinus café. His café helped prepare the bid for a place on the UN’s list of the world’s intangible heritage.
“We drink it every day, at any hour. It’s also a shared moment, a magical moment,” he further said.
The request for world heritage registration was first sent by the Ministry of Agriculture to the National Commission of UNESCO for Italy, which must, in turn, submit it by March 31 to the headquarters of the UN agency in Paris.
Thus, Espresso quickly became very popular from north to south of the country, with slight nuances depending on the region. More or less elongated, more or less full-bodied, accompanied by a glass of sparkling water.
To be the real deal, the espresso has to have a “round, substantial and velvety” taste and “hazel-brown to dark-brown foam, characterised by tawny reflexes”, according to the Italian Espresso Institute.
It must have a long-lasting aroma which has “notes of flowers, fruits, toasted bread and also chocolate”, says the institute.
The Italian Espresso Institute set up in 1998 to safeguard espresso.
Italy already boasts a series of living traditions and customs on the list. This also includes truffle hunting to the art of the Neapolitan pizza maker, the Mediterranean diet and traditional violin craftsmanship in Cremona, the birthplace of Antonio Stradivari.
