24 carat pure gold leaf It is exceedingly soft and delicate in its natural condition. Our Edible Gold is practically pure gold, but it is combined with only edible silver, making it totally digestible. Edible Silver leaf is also available, and we have Edible Silver in both leaf and powder or dust form. The name "edible" simply means that this product is not intended to be ingested. Gold leaf has been used since ancient times as a decorative element in culture throughout the world. It is still used today in religious icons, art treasures, and luxury items. In science, gold leaf is used by archaeologists to enhance the visual appeal of their findings. Edible gold was first produced in Europe where it was used as an alternative to expensive metal decorations for royal tableware and artwork. It continues to be used today in similar settings! It can also be worn as jewelry. People sometimes use the terms "gold plating" or "plated gold" when referring to objects that have been decorated with a thin layer of gold. But here you can see that we are talking about real gold leaf, which is much thicker than gold plate. Leaf gold is available in different sizes and shapes. It is usually sold by the ounce or gram. When you buy gold leaf you should always check the weight because some sellers may try to cheat you by weighing less leaf than promised.