ANKARA — In a tribute to the multicultural cuisine of Turkey's quake-hit Hatay province, the European Union on Monday granted protection status to the province's famous sweet treat, kanafeh (or kunefe) — a Mesopotamian dessert made with thin strings of crispy, golden-colored dough held together by unsalted gooey cheese and drizzled with thick sugar syrup.

The EU announced it included “Antakya Kunefesi” on its list of some 1,600 protected cuisine delights from across the world by granting it the status of Protected Geographical Indication (PGI). The status is a recognition of the link between a certain food, agricultural product or wine with a particular geographical origin in a boost to its reputation. 

“The recipe and production skills have been transferred from one generation to the next generation based on master-apprenticeship relationship,” the EU said, adding that both cheese and dough used in the sweet “is very unique."

Turkey’s EU Ambassador Faruk Kaymakci hailed the decision on Twitter, saying the sweet is now the ninth Turkish food to be granted the status.