Lucknow: A Culinary Jewel Recognized by UNESCO

Sat Dec 20 2025 06:31:32 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The vibrant city of Lucknow has joined the UNESCO Creative Cities of Gastronomy network, celebrating its rich culinary heritage including kebabs, biryani, and unique desserts.

Lucknow, renowned for its exquisite cuisine, has been named a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy. This recognition highlights its historical culinary traditions, including the famed kebabs and biryani, crafted through unique techniques. The city continues to foster a vibrant food culture that combines history, family recipes, and seasonal ingredients, encouraging global interest in its culinary offerings.

Mouth-watering kebabs, fragrant biryani, and whipped cloud-like desserts. The northern Indian city of Lucknow has always been a food lovers' paradise, with locals and visitors swearing by its cuisine.

Last month, UNESCO recognized it as a Creative City of Gastronomy - adding it to a select list of global cities and kindling hopes that it will spotlight Lucknow's sublime food. With this designation, it joins a global network of 408 cities across more than 100 countries committed to promoting 'creativity as a driver of sustainable urban development'.

The recognition 'is a testament to its deep-rooted culinary traditions and vibrant food ecosystem', Tim Curtis, director of the UNESCO Regional Office for South Asia, said. 'It honours the city's rich cultural legacy while opening new avenues for international collaboration,' he added.

Lucknow is only the second Indian city - after Hyderabad, which was selected in 2019 - to find a place in this coveted list of 70 cities globally. The accolade for this chaotic, eclectic city that is the capital of India's most populous state, Uttar Pradesh, doesn't surprise residents or food lovers. Many echo celebrity chef Ranveer Brar's sentiment: 'Better late than never. It should have come before.'

Madhavi Kuckreja, founder of Sanatkada Trust, shared that the city's unique cooking style stems from the slow pace and time invested in culinary preparations. 'What will be cooked, how will it be cooked?' is a continued conversation from waking up until going to bed in most homes. You are judged by the quality of food that comes out of your kitchen,' she says.

Lucknow, known as the City of Nawabs, is famed for its melt-in-the-mouth kebabs and biryani that evolved in the royal kitchens, blending Persian and local Indian styles. Historical tales reveal how iconic dishes like mutton galouti kebabs were created to cater to the dietary needs of aging nawabs.

Further architectural and culinary innovations, including the Dum Pukht slow-cook technique, were popularized during the reign of Nawab Asaf-ud-Daulah. This technique has become emblematic of Lucknow's rich food heritage.

Moreover, beyond kebabs and biryani, the city's vegetarian cuisine offers seasonal delights and unique desserts such as makkhan malai, a creamy cloud-like dessert. Veteran establishments like Sharmaji Tea Stall and Netram continue to serve traditional dishes, showcasing both modern adaptations and heritage recipes that span generations.

As Lucknow gains international recognition, there are optimistic sentiments that this spotlight will serve to share the culinary stories and experiences of this city with the world, inviting more food lovers to explore and indulge in its gastronomic offerings.