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Citing Belgian beer's integral role in social and culinary life, UNESCO is putting the country's rich brewing scene (with nearly 1,500 styles) on its list representing the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Belgium's beer culture is one of 16 new additions that were announced Thursday.

Other honorees include the making of flatbread in Iran, Turkey, and elsewhere; Cuba's rumba music, Egypt's Tahteeb stick game, and long-observed festivals in Japan, France, Spain and Greece.

When Belgium's beer culture was nominated for UNESCO recognition and protection back in 2014, beer expert Erik Verdonck explained the reasoning to NPR's Rachel Martin:

, UNESCO — the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization — wrote that while the country drinks a wide variety of beer, it's also famous for cooking with it — making everything from flavorful sauces to beer-washed cheese.


The agency also noted the beer experts — zythologists — who study and discuss the country's complex and often experimental brews. And it acknowledged efforts to make brewing more sustainable, including agreements between some breweries and neighboring farms that no pesticides or chemicals will be used that could pollute the groundwater.

, was also recognized for its tradition of organizing volunteers who share values and interests into cooperatives — groups that UNESCO says "improve living standards, overcome shared challenges and promote positive change."



And Korea's famous female divers of Jeju Island, who for years have retrieved shellfish for a living, were also honored.

Here's a list of the other cultural expressions honored by UNESCO Thursday, quoting the official notice:

Arts and Culture

The agency noted Belgium's beer experts -- zythologists -- who taste and study complex and often experimental brews. It's one of 16 cultural elements that are being recognized.

UNESCO deems Belgium's beer culture a treasure of humanity

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