What is the silver thing you find on Indian candies or treats?!
What is the silver thing you find on Indian candies or treats?
Some Indian treats contain these silvery things on them. What is that? Is it really edible?
Answers:
It's edible silver foil know as VARAKH:
Almost everyone loves sweets that have silver foil on them. The mass appeal of varakh has a stranglehold on peoples' minds, increasing the demand for it and thereby its supply.
Silver foil, or varakh, as it is generally known in India, adds glitter to Indian sweets, supari, paan, and fruits. It is also used in Ayurvedic medicines and on deities in many Jain temples. The silver-topped sweet is even served as 'prasad' in temples and on auspicious and religious as well as family and social occasions. Varakh is used in flavored syrups as in kesar (saffron) syrup, and also finds use in cosmetics.
For thousands of years gold and silver have been part of daily life in India. Children are given tiny silver cups spoons and plates as gifts married couples buy whole dining sets of crafted silver and even the poorest of the poor save to buy thin silver anklets. In fact silver is even used in food. Added as a garnish over sweets edible foil can be seen shimmering in the glass cases of any sweetmeat shop. It is so popular that India converts 13 tonnes of pure silver into edible silver foil each year.
manufacture
Although it is hard to imagine biting into silver edible silver leaf is quite different. Small balls of gold or silver are placed between sheets of tissue paper laid net in a leather pouch. This is beaten repeatedly but carefully with a heavy metal hammer flanening the balls into paper thin sheets.
appearance and taste
Silver foil is as thin as the best chiffon and lustrous. It is extremely fragile and often breaks up during use. It has no aroma or taste.
buying and storing
It is sold between sheets of tissue paper usually in boxes. Each sheet contains so little silver that it is not prohibitively expensive. Gold foil is also available. Both have a shelf life of many years.
culinary uses
Edible silver foil is used only as a garnish. It embellishes sweets rich biryanis meat curries and kababs. Carefully lift off a sheet of silver foil along with its lower sheet of tissue paper. Then turn it over on top of the prepared dish so that the foil sticks to the food. Bits will remain on the paper which can be pressed on the food similarly. It is nearly impossible to stick on a uniform coating of silver foil.
It's is traditionally used on barfi:
almond barfi (badam barfi)
kaju barfu (cashew barfi)
pista barfi (pistachio barfi)