The humble baguette 香蕉视频直播� the crunchy ambassador for French baking around the world 香蕉视频直播� is being added to the U.N.香蕉视频直播檚 list of intangible cultural heritage as a cherished tradition to be preserved by humanity.

UNESCO experts gathering in Morocco this week decided that the simple French flute 香蕉视频直播� made only of flour, water, salt, and yeast 香蕉视频直播� deserved United Nations recognition, after France香蕉视频直播檚 culture ministry warned of a 香蕉视频直播渃ontinuous decline香蕉视频直播� in the number of traditional bakeries, with some 400 closing every year over the past half-century.

The U.N. cultural agency香蕉视频直播檚 chief, Audrey Azoulay, said the decision honors more than just bread; it recognizes the 香蕉视频直播渟avoir-faire of artisanal bakers香蕉视频直播� and 香蕉视频直播渁 daily ritual.香蕉视频直播�

香蕉视频直播淚t is important that such craft knowledge and social practices can continue to exist in the future,香蕉视频直播� added Azoulay, a former French culture minister.

The agency defines intangible cultural heritage as 香蕉视频直播渢raditions or living expressions inherited from our ancestors and passed on to our descendants.香蕉视频直播�

With the bread香蕉视频直播檚 new status, the French government said it planned to create an artisanal baguette day, called the 香蕉视频直播淥pen Bakehouse Day,香蕉视频直播� to connect the French better with their heritage.

Back in France, bakers seemed proud, if unsurprised.

香蕉视频直播淥f course, it should be on the list because the baguette symbolizes the world. It香蕉视频直播檚 universal,香蕉视频直播� said Asma Farhat, baker at Julien香蕉视频直播檚 Bakery near Paris香蕉视频直播� Champs-Elysees avenue.

香蕉视频直播淚f there香蕉视频直播檚 no baguette, you can香蕉视频直播檛 have a proper meal. In the morning you can toast it, for lunch it香蕉视频直播檚 a sandwich, and then it accompanies dinner.香蕉视频直播�

Although it seems like the quintessential French product, the baguette was said to have been invented by Vienna-born baker August Zang in 1839. Zang put in place France香蕉视频直播檚 steam oven, making it possible to produce bread with a brittle crust yet fluffy interior.

The product香蕉视频直播檚 zenith did not come until the 1920s, with the advent of a French law preventing bakers from working before 4 a.m. The baguette香蕉视频直播檚 long, thin shape meant it could be made more quickly than its stodgy cousins, so it was the only bread that bakers could make in time for breakfast.

Despite the decline in traditional bakery numbers today, France香蕉视频直播檚 67 million people still remain voracious baguette consumers 香蕉视频直播� purchased at a variety of sales points, including in supermarkets. The problem is, observers say, that they can often be poor in quality.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 very easy to get bad baguette in France. It香蕉视频直播檚 the traditional baguette from the traditional bakery that香蕉视频直播檚 in danger. It香蕉视频直播檚 about quality not quantity,香蕉视频直播� said one Paris resident, Marine Fourchier, 52.

In January, French supermarket chain Leclerc was criticized by traditional bakers and farmers for its much publicized 29-cent baguette, accused of sacrificing the quality of the famed 65-centimeter (26-inch) loaf. A baguette normally costs just over 90 euro cents (just over $1), seen by some as an index on the health of the French economy.

The baguette is indeed serious business. France香蕉视频直播檚 香蕉视频直播淏read Observatory香蕉视频直播� 香蕉视频直播� a venerable institution that closely follows the fortunes of the flute 香蕉视频直播� notes that the French munch through 320 baguettes of one form or another every second. That香蕉视频直播檚 an average of half a baguette per person per day, and 10 billion every year.

The 香蕉视频直播渁rtisanal know-how and culture of baguette bread香蕉视频直播� was inscribed at the Morocco meeting among other global cultural heritage items, including Japan香蕉视频直播檚 Furyu-odori ritual dances, and Cuba香蕉视频直播檚 light rum masters.

香蕉视频直播擳homas Adamson, The Associated Press