Before We Dream About Eating In A Golden Plate, Now We Can Eat The Golden Food
What is Edible Gold?
What does gold taste like? Edible gold sounds like a better term than gold taste, and anyway I want to eat my words What is edible gold? Edible gold is exactly what it sounds like: gold that’s safe to eat. It’s a sumptuous extra that you find in top-end food and drink, and it’s used to add some glitter to dishes that have just a bit too much gold in them. Gold is monovalent – it has one electron that moves freely – which is a quality that it shares with other precious metals.
History of Edible Gold
Ancient Times
The historians of gold ingestion go back as far as Egypt, where gold is a material devised by the gods and consumed ritually at lavish festivities. It was flavored with beef stock, drunk in aspic, and sautéed in oils in order to appease the gods; it was eaten with regular meals in order to live a long, spiritually clean life.
Middle Ages
Fast-forward to the Middle Ages and gold was still king: European aristocrats sprinkled flakes of gold liberally on their food to announce their wealth and social standing – adding gold to one’s diet was the equivalent of tooling around town in a tricked-out sports car.
Modern Usage
Edible gold has been making a comeback lately, showing up in everything from pastries to cocktails. Since modern techniques make it simpler and safer to produce than it ever was, it’s easier (and, yes, still expensive) to come by.
Types of Edible Gold
Gold Leaf
Gold leaf is the most common form of edible gold: these ultra-thin sheets are often used to decorate cakes, chocolates and other sweets; they can float off if you breathe too hard on them.
Gold Flakes
People sometimes add tiny flakes of gold to the food, to make it seem a little fancy. Have you ever had a sprinkle of gold on top of a soup, or little flakes swirling around a cocktail? A drink with glittering gold is like a sparkling sunset.
Gold Dust
Gold dust is what it sounds like – very minute pieces of gold, added for a delicate shimmer to food and drink. It is also known as culinary fairy dust.
Production of Edible Gold
Extraction
The first step, of course, is to mining the gold. It is, after all, dug out of the ground along with all other rare metals.
Purification
After this comes refining. Gold used in jewellery or even gold bullion is not safe to eat, because of impurities that might lead to contamination. So its quality would have to be brought close to 23-24 karats, which is about 99.99 per cent pure.
Shaping and Packaging
Lastly, the gold is formed into bigger leaves or flakes or dust, and then packaged to avoid contamination. The product is both beautiful, as well as safe to consume.
Uses of Edible Gold in Cuisine
Luxury Desserts
Desserts are the raison d’être of edible gold: the chocolate truffle dusted in gold leaf; the elaborate wedding cake glistening with gold, its sweet buttercream frosting and delicate fruit essence announcing: ‘I’m worth it!’
Beverages
These days, a dash of gold can embellish a libation of any sort, from champagne to cocktails. Tiny flecks of gold sparkle in glasses of bubbly, making the experience of drinking it all the more memorable.
Gourmet Dishes
Gold might not be one of the five basic tastes, but that doesn’t stop gastro nouvéa restaurants adornment their savoury dishes with the precious metal. Why stop at dessert and drinks when you can imbue everything from sushi to foie gras with a touch of cash?
Health and Safety of Edible Gold
Is it Safe to Eat?
Indeed I can: edible gold is totally inert, that is, it does nothing: it passes through the digestive system without being absorbed, so you can enjoy the pretty effect without jeopardizing your health.
Nutritional Value
The final twist of the blade is that gold serves no nutritional purpose: it’s all surface, all glitter. Like glitter. Unless you are some kind of stage magician, you will notice that eating a spoonful of glitter won’t make you any stronger; it will probably stick a little in your throat afterward but that’s about it. While there’s a certain glamour to glitter, it’s not exactly the same as nutritious sustenance. Gold is inert. It just sits there; it doesn’t interact with its environment in any meaningful way. Calorie for calorie, it’s like eating a diamond.
Cultural Significance of Edible Gold
Symbol of Wealth and Power
From ancient times, the precious metal was the ultimate symbol of wealth and power, and the lavish practice of eating gold told everybody who could afford it that they had superfluous riches. Even if gold no longer signifies the ultimate status, it retains its connotations of luxury.
Religious and Ritualistic Uses
For example, in human ritual and temple offerings, gold is often used. Gold is said to possess spiritual purity and bless its possessor with auspiciousness and fortune.
Where to Buy Edible Gold
Online Retailers
You can buy edible gold pretty easily online. Amazon and specialty culinary shops sell gold leaf sheets and gold dust.
Specialty Stores
Women who wish to see what they’re buying can go to specialty stores that sell the highest-quality baking and cooking equipment, where you’re likely to find edible gold for sale. The people who work there will be experts, too, who will help you learn best practices and even teach you a few tricks.
How to Use Edible Gold at Home
Decorating Cakes and Pastries
Make a big impression at your next dinner party with gold leaf; simply brush or tweeze a little into place atop a cake or pastry to give it some extra sparkle.
Garnishing Cocktails
Gold flakes, anyone? This recipe is a great way to add a touch of luxe to your home bartending; and since you’re making it yourself with costs under your control, you can price the potion any way you choose: because now every drink is an occasion.
The Future of Edible Gold
Innovative Culinary Uses
As chefs start to bend the laws of food and imaginatively experiment with different ingredients, we’re likely to see virgins and sages fall further and further from the rich flavors and colours of gold: the magic of culinary ingenuity transforming the simple formula of edible gold into something we could never have imagined: virgin sorbet drenched in gold sauce; ice cream made golden with edible gold; gold-dusted soups; any form of golden dessert. And no, I was not paid for this.
Potential Trends
As more establishments emphasize luxurious and experiential dining, edible gold is likely to increase in popularity. Watch out for it in pop-up restaurants, food festivals, and ‘executive dining’ domes.
Conclusion
But clearly, edible gold is not the mere useless culinary statement some will have you believe. It’s a mark of good taste, sophistication and luxury. Next time you give a party because you feel that a celebration is called for, because you want to do something extravagant for your loved one, or simply because you want to live a little more glamorously, add a bit of glitter to your life and your plate with some edible gold.
FAQs
Is edible gold safe for everyone to consume?
Yes, absolutely: edible gold is safe for everyone, even children and pregnant mothers, because it is non-toxic and inert.
Does edible gold have any flavor?
No, edible gold is tasteless and odorless. It’s used purely for decorative purposes.
How much does edible gold cost?
The price is always small, depending on the kind or amount, starting from a couple of dollars for a g on up to a few hundred dollars for the larger pieces of gold leaf.
Can I make my own edible gold at home?
As it has been stated several times already, it is by no means recommended for you to manufacture your own edible gold in your kitchen. Proprietary safety and purity requirements need to be fulfilled so, in this particular instance, it might just be worth buying it.
How do I store edible gold?
Store such consumable gold in a cool, dry place, out of the sun and moisture, as these will help maintain its form, texture and character.
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