Edible gold is not fiction. You have probably heard about the most sophisticated and expensive representatives of culinary masterpieces, which are prepared with decorations made of gold or using it as an ingredient.
So edible gold, what is it? Specially processed metal, which has no smell or taste, but gives any dish shine and luxury, was introduced into official use recently. After it became known for certain that gold has a beneficial effect on health, authorities in many countries entered specially processed metal in the lists of food additives. The process of its creation is time-consuming and costly, so eating it every day is too big a luxury. However, its beneficial properties and attractive appearance make people around the world spend tens of thousands of dollars on dishes with the addition of edible gold. Due to its special characteristics, some countries have developed unique traditions related to the use of metal in food. Each country is different in its own way using gold powder, cereal or whole sheets of edible gold leaf.
Custom or love of luxury?
In Japan, it is customary to drink the national alcoholic drink sake with the addition of gold scales on New Year's Eve. This symbolizes good luck and happiness in the coming year.
In refined France, it is customary to add gold to champagne, which most often emphasizes the noble origin of the wine brand and its value.
In England, golden confetti is sold for special occasions, which are also added to sparkling wines. But this is more connected with the moment itself than with the quality of the drink into which confetti is added.
Gold wrappers and golden pies, which are also eaten with gold wrap, are popular all over the world. How did the idea to eat gold come about?
Appearance story
As a food product, it began to be used only in 2009, when it appeared on the shelves of elite confectioneries in London. The very tradition of using gold for food originates from the experiments of medieval alchemists in China and the Arab countries, which later disseminated the results of studies on the effect of gold on the human body and throughout medieval Europe. However, already in the XVI century the first golden drinks appeared, symbolizing luxury and uniqueness.
Gold today
Today, edible gold is used around the world. Despite all the efforts of chefs and confectionery companies, chocolate factories and restaurants of the largest European countries, the USA and Great Britain, India is the leader in the use of gold in food. This is more due to traditions, but statistics indicate that Indians consume precious metal in food up to 12 tons annually.
Edible gold is used for cakes, pizzas and burgers as a decoration. The most famous edible chocolate products and alcoholic drinks with metal dust. So for about a dozen years, a hypoallergenic metal specially developed for culinary purposes has been actively used in cooking around the world.
Effects on the body
Edible gold has long been recognized not only as a metal harmless to the body, but also having a positive effect. In ancient times, gold was prescribed for the treatment of heart attacks, and today it has already been scientifically confirmed that taking certain doses of this metal improves a person’s condition with nervous disorders and diseases of the respiratory system. In addition, gold ions improve the hormonal background of the body and the general state of human health, strengthening immunity.
If you are interested in the opportunity to create your culinary masterpiece with the addition of gold, but you do not know the name of edible gold, you should learn a little about the standardized product used as a food supplement. The so-called E-175, formed into the thinnest light gold sheets, powder or flakes, can be purchased at any specialized store. Such an additive is absolutely safe for people suffering from any type of allergic reactions, so you can safely start working with it in any type of food. The only question is whether you really want to spend money on luxury that has no taste or smell. Many representatives of elite culinary chefs have made their choice.
Modern research
In modern medicine, a solution based on gold ions and demineralized water is extremely popular. It is called colloidal and is used in various fields of medicine.
In the 20th century, German bacteriologist Robert Koch made a number of discoveries about the unique properties of gold and its effect on a variety of diseases of a bacterial nature. The scientist received the Nobel Prize for research in the field of the inhibitory effect of gold on tubercle bacillus. Thanks to these studies, the possibility of treating other similar diseases of the respiratory tract is now open.
Gold strengthens the heart muscle and blood vessel walls, which positively affects the entire cardiovascular system.
The most amazing and most popular area in medicine today is gold dietary supplements and their use in the treatment of mental disorders. Due to the improvement of blood circulation in the brain and peripheral nervous system, the speed of thinking increases, due to the relaxation of muscles and nerves, tension is relieved and depression is treated. Modern research considers gold as a metal capable of combating drug and alcohol addiction.
It is believed that gold destroys cancer cells by gently affecting the body.
In elite cooking
In the menu of the most expensive restaurants in the world in France, the USA and Turkey you will find several names of various dishes at the cost of up to several tens of thousands of dollars. In high-end cooking, edible gold is used in the form of the thinnest sheets of 24-carat gold. In addition to sheets, gold chips and granules are used. Each dish is unique in its own way and is particularly luxurious for lovers of a spectacular gastronomic experience.
For those who are ready for anything for a new taste experience (although the appetite here most likely causes the appearance of the dish), they will have to spend several million dollars on them. An interesting example of "golden cooking" is the so-called 24 Carrot Cake, made in the form of a gold bar. The imagination of the cooks does not stop there: in the world there are candies with golden crumbs, ice cream and a variety of drinks.