Minister of Tourism, Culture and Sports Blendi Gonxhja highlighted that the traditional ballakume cookie, deeply rooted in the Elbasan region, is an authentic representation of Albanian culinary identity and a hallmark of the Summer Day holiday.

As the authentic sweet of Elbasan’s Summer Day festival, ballakume are special because they are prepared exclusively for this annual holiday.

The traditional family recipe for cooking Ballokume inherited from generations carries butter, sugar, eggs and corn flour.

Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) refers to the living traditions, knowledge, skills, and expressions—such as oral traditions, performing arts, social practices, rituals, festive events, and traditional craftsmanship—passed down through generations. Defined by UNESCO, it is constantly recreated by communities to provide a sense of identity, continuity, and cultural diversity.

Albanian ICH consists of the Folk Iso-polyphony, a form of singing inscribed in 2008; Xhubleta Skills, i.e. the traditional Albanian clothing craftsmanship inscribed 2022; Transhumance, i.e. the seasonal droving of livestock and festivals and rituals such as drumming, dancing, and oral storytelling. /k.s/r.e/p.s./