We’ve all eaten those kaju katlis with a hint of silver on top and relished it haven’t we? Sometimes even a glimmer of gold that comes with some desserts. They might make the mithai or the cake look grand, but did you know that these silver and gold leaves or flakes we see in some of the foodstuffs actually have no taste at all.
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It is believed that silver and gold leaf were known to have medicinal properties and therefore were added to food. While gold was said to be an aphrodisiac, silver was said to be an antimicrobial agent. Another belief is that is that these leaves were used in the Mughal kitchens to keep the food warm and also to ensure that the dish wasn’t tampered with, as the slightest touch could break these extremely fragile sheets and it would be easy to catch if the food was tampered with.
Is it safe to eat them? The gold and silver leaf are absolutely safe to eat even though they may have no flavor at all. Also known as Varak, these are the edible form of silver and gold and are often used to decorate food, especially desserts and mithas, chocolates, cakes and sometime paan too.
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Having said that, it is important to select the right kind of gold or silver leaf for your consumption. One needs to make sure that is in the purest form possible, gold should be around 22 to 24 karats only then it can be considered harmless. Also, check if the label on the gold and silver leaf package has edible written in it.
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These sheets are either sold as flakes or sheets (loose and transfer) and it is best to buy a sheet, especially the transfer sheets if you need to cover an entire cake or a dessert that is large. If you need to add just a hint of gold or silver, then flakes or the loose sheets are the best.
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If you need to add the gold or silver leaf to an entire cake, then it’s best to lay the transfer sheet on a flat surface and then turn the cake upside down on the center of the sheet, then cover the whole cake by gently rolling it on both sides on the sheet.
The gold and silver leaf is easily available all over the world and you can even buy them online. However, like they say “All that glitters is not gold,” likewise; What looks glittery and grand is nothing more than just a tasteless dressing to make the food look more appealing.
