Italy bidding for UNESCO status for Espresso coffee

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 20 - Agriculture Undersecretary Gian Marco Centinaio announced on Thursday that the government is bidding to have Italian espresso coffee inserted into UNESCO's immaterial heritage list.
    "Coffee is much more than a simple drink in Italy," Centinaio said.
    "It is an authentic ritual, it is an integral part of the national identity and a expression of our sociality that distinguishes us around the world".
    The undersecretary said he was confident UNESCO would approve the bid by the end of March. (ANSA).