Edible gold leaf is a gold product that can be used to decorate food. In candy-making it is often used to cover whole candies like chocolates or truffles, or applied sparingly as a small decorative touch. It is also used in other dessert decorations, from a few speckles on top of a cupcake to covering an entire cake with gold leaf.
Is Gold Leaf Really Edible?
In most cases, yes. Gold is considered “biologically inert,” meaning it passes through the digestive tract without being absorbed. When selecting gold leaf, make sure to get gold that is as pure as possible–this means 24 carats. Gold leaf with a smaller carat value has more impurities and is less safe to eat. If you are careful and buy gold leaf that is clearly labeled as “edible” and has 24 carats, eating gold leaf is harmless.
How is Gold Leaf Sold?
Gold leaf is typically sold either in sheets or as flakes. The flakes are easiest if you want to sprinkle the tops of candies with a gold glimmer, and they are also frequently used for adding floating gold flecks to alcoholic drinks. For sheets,there are 3 sizes:4.33*4.33cm,8*8cm and 9.33*9.33cm. The sheets are more delicate and can be tricky to use, but they are best if you want to cover a larger surface area with gold. Sheets are sold in two ways: loose leaf and transfer leaf. Loose leaf is best if you want to tear small pieces of the gold leaf apart and use small portions to decorate candies. Transfer leaf is best if you want to cover a large surface, like a cake, entirely with gold.
