Sangak bread registered as Iran's intangible heritage

Sangak bread has been officially registered as part of Iran’s intangible cultural heritage. Alireza Izadi, Director General of Registration of Works and Preservation of Intangible and Natural Heritage at the Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts, announced that the bread was added to the national list following expert evaluations.

The registration aims to protect the historical memory, indigenous knowledge, and food identity of the Iranian people. Historical documentation for Sangak includes the dictionary ‘Burhan al-Qati’ by Khalaf Tabrizi, written in 1062 AH, which describes it as a type of bread baked on warm pebbles.

Oral traditions and historical accounts suggest the bread's origins may date back to the Sassanid era or even earlier. Archaeological evidence, such as the remains of a Sangak bakery including a functional oven and specialized pebbles found in a ruined fortress in Varamin, further supports the long-standing continuity of this traditional baking method.