By Rishita Sogani
Edible gold? Surprised? But then imagine; what if you could eat gold? No, not in a fairytale sense but quite literally! Stunned…But then this edible gold is a reality. Once reserved for royalty and the ultra-rich, it has now made its way to modern dining tables, turning desserts, cocktails, and even sushi into glittering masterpieces.
Made from genuine 22 to 24-carat gold, this luxurious ingredient is hammered into ultra-thin sheets or crushed into delicate flakes. It’s officially recognised as a food additive under the code E175 by both the European Union and the U.S. FDA so yes, it’s safe to eat!
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has also approved it for culinary use. But here’s the fun part: edible gold is completely tasteless, odourless, and chemically inert, meaning your body doesn’t digest it, and it simply passes through. You won’t get any health benefits (or side effects), but you will get an Instagram-worthy moment.
The trend of eating gold dates back nearly 5,000 years, when ancient Egyptians and Japanese aristocrats used it as a symbol of purity, power, and wealth. Today, it’s seen in fine dining and haute cuisine decorating pastries, chocolates, fancy cocktails, and even biryanis. Some luxury restaurants have even introduced gold cappuccinos and gold ice creams that quite literally let you taste luxury.
So next time you spot a dessert glimmering with gold, remember you’re not just indulging in food, but centuries of culinary opulence. Recently, Jaipur made India’s costliest sweet ‘Swarn Prasadam’, for Diwali. Priced at ₹1.11 lakh per kg, it had edible 24-carat gold. Served with saffron, almonds & pine nuts, the sweet soon was seen trending on social media…
After all, who said sparkle was only meant for jewelry?