The sports category has moved to a new website.

Everything you should know before eating edible gold

Eating of gold dates back to hundreds of years ago.

Will you be exploring this luxury food item soon? [Getty Images]

As surprising as it may sound, there is gold that can be eaten and there are some things you should know about this food item that is now becoming more common.

Edible gold is a luxury food item commonly added to foods for aesthetics. It is made from pure, real gold (usually 22 to 24 karats) that has been pounded, rolled over and formed into sheet transfer leaf format or edible gold flakes.

ADVERTISEMENT

Edible gold can come in flakes, leaves, dust, and colour spray form. Over the years, edible gold has been used to decorate desserts like cakes, donuts, and ice cream.

Eating of gold dates back in time to hundreds of years ago. It is said that the people in far Eastern civilisation ate gold to either summon their gods’ favour or to look like them, since their gods were made with gold.

The Japanese were also popular for using edible gold for food decorations and the Europeans in the Middle Age used to throw huge parties with gold-decorated foods.

ADVERTISEMENT

Edible gold is considered chemically inert, and it has been officially declared as non-toxic. So it is definitely safe for consumption.

It is safe to say, gold is eaten mostly for the aesthetics and not for the taste. This is because edible gold is basically tasteless. It has no flavour of its own and mostly eaten for luxury or some perceived health benefits.

ADVERTISEMENT

It is said that gold comes with some health benefits such as treating respiratory conditions, arthritis and may help improve the immune system. For edible gold however, it is not absorbed during the digestive process and while it is safe to eat, there are no nutritional health benefits associated with its consumption.

Now you are more familiar with edible gold, are you adding this to your diet anytime soon?

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: news@pulselive.co.ke

Recommended articles

10 personal spaces every partner should respect in a relationship

10 personal spaces every partner should respect in a relationship

5 things every woman wants for Christmas

5 things every woman wants for Christmas

7 signs you're a highly sensitive person — even if you're a chatty extrovert

7 signs you're a highly sensitive person — even if you're a chatty extrovert

Lessons for sub-Saharan Africa from a Malaria-free Belize

Lessons for sub-Saharan Africa from a Malaria-free Belize

4 reasons locked hair grows longer and stronger than normal hair

4 reasons locked hair grows longer and stronger than normal hair

4 African countries are responsible for 70% of the chocolate in the world

4 African countries are responsible for 70% of the chocolate in the world

Hungarian Recipe: How the famous Jókai bean soup is made

Hungarian Recipe: How the famous Jókai bean soup is made

7 reasons women don't get wet even when aroused

7 reasons women don't get wet even when aroused

4 diet changes that may help ADHD symptoms, according to a dietitian

4 diet changes that may help ADHD symptoms, according to a dietitian

ADVERTISEMENT