What Does Edible Gold Taste Like?

One of the easiest ways to transform a dish from drab to fab is with the use of a little edible gold as a garnish. Suddenly, the most boring-looking foods seem like something you’d see on the cover of a culinary magazine.

Beyond being an attractive garnish, though, what does it add to your food? Does edible gold have a taste? In this article, we’ll be taking a quick dive into the flavor of edible gold, why people eat it, and its effects on the body.

Let’s jump to it…

What Does Edible Gold Taste Like?

Have you ever picked up on metallic flavors in your food or drink before, whether it’s from hard water or food that was kept in a metal container for too long? If so, you might imagine edible gold to have that same metallic taste that lingers unpleasantly in the back of your throat.

This couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact, edible gold is virtually flavorless. You probably won’t taste it at all in your food or drink.

Further Reading: What Does Yellow Watermelon Taste Like?

Is Edible Gold Real Gold?

Edible gold leaf is indeed real gold. This leads to sheets of gold leaf being significantly costlier than most other ingredients in your home, so you might want to buy it only sparingly. That being said, despite it being made from real gold, gold leaf isn’t necessarily as pricey as you might expect.

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What Happens When You Eat Edible Gold?

Eating a precious metal might seem strange or even possibly dangerous at first. The good news is that it’s totally safe.

Gold is an inert metal, which means that your body won’t absorb it. It will safely pass through without causing you any harm.

Related Article: What Do Pears Taste Like?

Why Would You Eat Gold?

It’s a common question to ask why you’d bother to eat gold in the first place. It has no taste, aroma, or significant nutritional value, so what’s the point?

The answer is simply that it looks good. High-end establishments will add strategically placed gold leaf to improve the look of a dish or drink – and increase the price accordingly, as well.

Have you ever heard the saying that you eat with your eyes, too? This is definitely the case, because recent studies have shown that people eating artfully arranged food tend to find it more flavorful than basic-looking similar dishes. At the very least, a gold-dressed drink or dish will probably make those consuming it perceive more flavor. 

What is Edible Gold Made of?

You can’t just take a bite out of your gold jewelry. So what makes edible gold leaf safe to eat?

It’s obvious that it’s made from gold, but the type is specific. Edible gold is generally made from pure 24-karat gold or a combination of edible metals.

Want to drink something else that will make you feel elite? Consider trying a Dubonnet cocktail. 

Wrap Up

Go to elite restaurants and bars, and you’ll undoubtedly come across foods with shimmering gold leaf sprinkled on them. Even if the gold itself is flavorless, the visual effect is nonetheless impressive. If you’re looking for a way to glamorize your food, consider adding a small sprinkle of gold leaf to it. You can virtually guarantee the result will be Instagram-worthy.