Today is the first day of the week long Diwali festival in India. The celebration of the Diwali festival includes lots of sweets which are often garnished with edible silver leaf.
As a follower of Pangea Collection, you likely know that the price of silver has continued to rise of the last couple of years. Even with the increase in silver prices, confectioners are continuing to create delicious treats rolled in delicate sheets of silver.
Silver leaf, like the jewellery from Pangea Collection, is made by hand in small workshops. The leaf is made by men who pound silver until it is flattened to a very fine sheet.
Part of the festival celebration is about indulging in food including sweets such as kaju katli. Kuju katli is a dessert made of cashews, sugar, milk and cardamom and is wrapped in silver leaf.
Silver and Gold leaf was at one time used to garnish the food of royalty and is very popular as an elegant decoration on cakes and chocolates. It has also been used traditionally in tobacco products, mouthwash and even rice dishes.
Theoretically silver is flavourless but psychologically it adds value to the sweets in it’s beauty. It is also believe to have value for therapeutic purposes. Some doctors still recommend silver leaf as beneficial for the heart, stomach and mind.
Of course conversely questions have been raised about the negative effects of silver leaf on health leading some confectioners to stop using silver leaf on their sweets.
Happy Diwali, you decide if your sweets should be with or without silver leaf!
