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{{Short description|Metallic leaf used on South Asian sweets}}
{{other uses}}
{{other uses}}
{{Infobox food
{{Infobox food
| name = Vark
| name = Vark or Waraq
| image = Indian Sweets Vark.jpg
| image = File:Maawa mithai.JPG
| image_size = 200px
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Indian sweets garnished with vark
| caption = Indian ''[[barfi]]'' sweets garnished with vark
| alternate_name = Varq, vark, varak, varakh, varakha etc.
| alternate_name = Varq, Varaq, vark, varak, varakh, varakha, etc.
| country = [[Indian Subcontinent]]
| country = [[Indian Subcontinent]]
| region = [[South Asia]]
| region = [[South Asia]]
Line 16: Line 17:
| other =
| other =
}}
}}
'''Vark''', also called '''varak''' (also silver leaf), is super fine [[filigree]] [[Metal leaf|foil]] sheet of pure metals, typically [[silver]] but sometimes [[gold]],<ref name="dlf" /> used to decorate [[South Asian sweets]] and [[Indian cuisine|food]], but also placed on mounds of [[saffron]]ed rice served on platters, to make those look more appetising.<ref name=varq4/><ref name=varq5>Maya Tiwari, 2005, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NuZFAAAAYAAJ&q=varak+silver+foil+making&dq=varak+silver+foil+making&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiwys3hicjYAhWHuY8KHcyLAI0Q6AEISzAH Ayurveda: A Life of Balance : the Complete Guide to Ayurvedic].</ref><ref name=varq6>1989, [https://books.google.com/books?id=j9tTHWAF_VEC&q=edible+varaq+silver+making&dq=edible+varaq+silver+making&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiXtvrdjMjYAhWJtI8KHZ8rD2AQ6AEILTAB The Illustrated Weekly of India], Volume 110, Issues 36-44 - Page 39.</ref> The silver and gold are edible, though flavorless. Varak is made by pounding silver into sheets a few [[micrometre]]s (μm) thick, typically 0.2&nbsp;μm-0.8&nbsp;μm. The silver sheets are typically packed between layers of paper for support; this paper is peeled away before use.<ref name=varq2>Madhu Gadia, 2000, [https://books.google.com/books?id=mY3cO8b5iToC&pg=PA39&dq=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiK14uHh8jYAhVIYo8KHf1mDu0Q6AEILDAB#v=onepage&q=vark%20edible%20silver%20foil%20manufacturing&f=false New Indian Home Cooking: More Than 100 Delicious Nutritional, and Easy Low-fat recipes].</ref> It is fragile and breaks into smaller pieces if handled with direct skin contact. Leaf that is 0.2&nbsp;μm thick tends to adhere to skin if handled directly. Vark sheets are laid or rolled over some South Asian sweets, confectionery, dry fruits and spices.<ref name=varq3>DK, 2017, [https://books.google.com/books?id=O6X8DQAAQBAJ&pg=PA85&dq=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiK14uHh8jYAhVIYo8KHf1mDu0Q6AEINjAD#v=onepage&q=vark%20edible%20silver%20foil%20manufacturing&f=false The Periodic Table Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Elements].</ref><ref name=varq4>Vijaya Ghose, Jaya Ramanathan, and Renuka N. Khandekar, 1992, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_v1tAAAAMAAJ&q=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing&dq=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjCjb25iMjYAhVJs48KHQmjBbc4ChDoAQglMAA Tirtha, the Treasury of Indian Expressions], Page 61.</ref> For safety and ethical reasons, the government of India has issued food safety and product standards guidelines for manufacturers of silver foil.<ref name=varq8/>
'''Vark''' (also '''varak''' '''Waraq''' or '''warq''') is a fine [[filigree]] [[Metal leaf|foil]] sheet of pure metal, typically [[silver]] but sometimes [[gold]],<ref name="dlf">[http://www.delafee.com/Edible+Gold+Creations_Information+on+edible+gold/ Gold in Gastronomy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002554/http://www.delafee.com/Edible+Gold+Creations_Information+on+edible+gold/ |date=2016-03-04 }} deLafee, Switzerland (2008)</ref> used to decorate [[South Asian sweets]] and [[Indian cuisine|food]]. The silver and [[Edible gold|gold are edible]], though flavorless. Vark is made by pounding silver into sheets less than one [[micrometre]] (μm) thick, typically 0.2–0.8&nbsp;μm. The silver sheets are typically packed between layers of paper for support; this paper is peeled away before use.<ref name=varq2>Madhu Gadia, 2000, [https://books.google.com/books?id=mY3cO8b5iToC&dq=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing&pg=PA39 New Indian Home Cooking: More Than 100 Delicious Nutritional, and Easy Low-fat recipes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025103740/https://books.google.com/books?id=mY3cO8b5iToC&dq=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing&pg=PA39#v=onepage&q=vark%20edible%20silver%20foil%20manufacturing&f=false |date=2023-10-25 }}.</ref> It is fragile and breaks into smaller pieces if handled with direct skin contact. Leaf that is 0.2&nbsp;μm thick tends to stick to skin if handled directly.

Vark sheets are laid or rolled over some South Asian sweets, confectionery, dry fruits and spices.<ref name=varq3>DK, 2017, [https://books.google.com/books?id=O6X8DQAAQBAJ&dq=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing&pg=PA85 The Periodic Table Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Elements] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025103700/https://books.google.com/books?id=O6X8DQAAQBAJ&dq=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing&pg=PA85 |date=2023-10-25 }}.</ref><ref name=varq4>Vijaya Ghose, Jaya Ramanathan, and Renuka N. Khandekar, 1992, [https://books.google.com/books?id=_v1tAAAAMAAJ&q=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing Tirtha, the Treasury of Indian Expressions] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025103742/https://books.google.com/books?id=_v1tAAAAMAAJ&q=vark+edible+silver+foil+manufacturing |date=2023-10-25 }}, Page 61.</ref> It is also placed onto mounds of [[saffron]] rice on platters.<ref name=varq4/><ref name="varq5">Maya Tiwari, 2005, [https://books.google.com/books?id=NuZFAAAAYAAJ&q=varak+silver+foil+making Ayurveda: A Life of Balance : the Complete Guide to Ayurvedic] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025103700/https://books.google.com/books?id=NuZFAAAAYAAJ&q=varak+silver+foil+making |date=2023-10-25 }}.</ref><ref name=varq6>1989, [https://books.google.com/books?id=j9tTHWAF_VEC&q=edible+varaq+silver+making The Illustrated Weekly of India] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231025103743/https://books.google.com/books?id=j9tTHWAF_VEC&q=edible+varaq+silver+making |date=2023-10-25 }}, Volume 110, Issues 36-44 - Page 39.</ref>

For safety and ethical reasons, the [[Government of India]] has issued food safety and product standards guidelines for manufacturers of silver foil.<ref name=varq8/>


==History==
==History==
===Etymology===
===Etymology===
[[File:Diwali sweets India 2009.jpg|250px|thumb|A tray of [[South Asian sweets]], with some pieces covered with shiny ''vark''.]]
[[File:Diwali sweets India 2009.jpg|250px|thumb|A tray of [[South Asian sweets]], with some pieces covered with shiny ''vark'']]
Varaka means cloth, cloak or a thing that covers something else. Vark is sometimes spelled ''Varaq'', ''varq'', ''vark'', ''varkh'', ''varakh'', ''varkha'', or ''waraq'' ({{Lang-hi|वरक़}}, {{lang-ur|ورق}} {{IPA-hi|ʋəɾəq}}). In [[Persian]] and [[Arabi]], varaq or Waraq, stand for sheet, leaf or foil.
Varaka means cloth, cloak or a thing that covers something else. Vark is sometimes spelled ''Varaq'', ''varq'', ''vark'', ''varkh'', ''varakh'', ''varkha'', or ''waraq'' ({{Langx|hi|वरक़}}, {{langx|ur|ورق}} {{IPA|hi|ʋəɾəq}}). In [[Persian language|Persian]], ''varaqa'' or ''barga'', means a sheet, leaf or foil.

===Origin===
The tradition of using silver and gold foils to decorate food originated from the ancient [[Ayurveda|Ayurvedic]] practice of using precious metals and pieces of pearl and conch shell in ''[[bhasma]]'' (medicinal ash).<ref name=varq5/> Varaka is mentioned in several ancient Sanskrit documents, particularly in Ayurvedic and medical literature. The word ''varaka'' is mentioned with ''swarna'' (gold), ''tara'' (silver) or ''rupera'' (silver) in these documents; the discussion is in three forms of these precious metals: ''patra'' (leaf), ''varaka'' (thin foil) and ''bhasma'' (ash). Ayurvedic documents consider silver as an antimicrobial astringent, while gold is claimed to be an aphrodisiac. This is not unique to Indian subcontinent; in Europe, edible gold (''Aureum potabile'') and silver were also claimed to have medicinal properties; later studies found that they can indeed be antibacterial owing to the [[oligodynamic effect]].{{Citation needed |date=October 2016}}


==Product==
==The Verk product==
[[File:Silver Coated Spices By Shree Aditya Silver Leaves.jpg|250px|thumb|Silver Coated Spices]]
[[File:Silver Coated Spices By Shree Aditya Silver Leaves.jpg|250px|thumb|Silver-coated spices]]


===Manufacturing===
===Manufacturing===
Varak is made by placing the pure metal dust between [[Parchment paper|parchment sheets]], then pounding the sheets until the metal dust [[Molding (process)|mold]] into a [[Foil (metal)|foil]],<ref name=varq5/> usually a few [[micrometre]]s (μm) thick, typically 0.2&nbsp;μm-0.8&nbsp;μm. The sheets are typically packed with paper for support; this paper is peeled away before use.<ref name="dlf"/> it generally takes 2 hours to pound the silver particles into foils.<ref name=varq1>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62412082.cms ‘Chandi ka Warq’ business may become history soon], [[The Economic Times]], 8 Jan 2018.</ref>
Vark is made by placing the pure metal dust between [[Parchment paper|parchment sheets]], then pounding the sheets until the metal dust [[Molding (process)|molds]] into a [[Foil (metal)|foil]],<ref name=varq5/> usually less than one [[micrometre]] (μm) thick, typically 0.2–0.8&nbsp;μm. The sheets are typically packed with paper for support; this paper is peeled away before use.<ref name="dlf"/> it generally takes 2 hours to pound the silver particles into foils.<ref name=varq1>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62412082.cms ‘Chandi ka Warq’ business may become history soon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180214150551/https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/62412082.cms |date=2018-02-14 }}, [[The Economic Times]], 8 Jan 2018.</ref>


Particles were traditionally manually pounded between the layers of ox gut or cow hide.<ref name=varq1/> It is easier to separate the silver leaf from the animal tissue than to separate it from the paper. Due to the concerns of vegetarians population of India, manufacturers have switched to the modern technologies.<ref name="dlf"/> that have evolved for the production of silver leaves in India, Germany, Russia and China. Modern technologies include beating over sheets of black special treated paper or polyester sheets coated with food grade calcium powder (nicknamed "german plastic") are used instead of ox-guts or cow hide.<ref name=varq1/> [[Old City (Hyderabad, India)|Old City]] in [[Hyderabad]] use to be the hub of traditional manual manufacturing, where it is a dying trade.<ref name=varq1/> Modern machine based manufacturing hubs are based in [[Delhi]] and [[Noida]].<ref name=varq1/>
Particles were traditionally manually pounded between the layers of [[Goldbeater's skin|ox gut]] or cow hide.<ref name=varq1/> It is easier to separate the silver leaf from the animal tissue than to separate it from the paper. Due to the concerns of the vegetarian population of India, manufacturers have switched to the modern technologies that have evolved for the production of silver leaves in India, Germany, Russia and China.<ref name="dlf"/> Modern technologies include beating over sheets of black special treated paper or polyester sheets coated with food grade calcium powder (nicknamed "German plastic") are used instead of ox-guts or cow hide.<ref name=varq1/> [[Old City (Hyderabad, India)|Old City]] in [[Hyderabad]] used to be the hub of traditional manual manufacturing, where it is a dying trade.<ref name=varq1/> Delhi is a new hub of vark manufacturing in India.


===Usage as food===
===Usage as food===
The silver is edible, though flavorless. It is also commonly used in [[Pakistan]] and India as coating on sweets, dry fruits (such as almonds, cashews, and dates), and in sugar balls, betel nuts, cardamom, and other spices.<ref name=varq4/> Estimated consumption of Vark is 275 tons (according to BWC-[[Beauty Without Cruelty|Beauty without cruelty]] data) annually (c. 2016).<ref name=varq8/>
The silver is edible, though flavourless. It is also commonly used in [[India]], [[Pakistan]], and [[Bangladesh]] as coating on sweets, dry fruits, and in sugar balls, betel nuts, cardamom, and other spices.<ref name=varq4/> Estimated consumption of vark is 275 tons annually.


Using edible silver and gold foils on sweets, confectionery and desserts is not unique to the Indian subcontinent; other regions such as Japan and Europe have long used precious metal foils as food cover and also decoration, including specialty drinks such as [[Danziger Goldwasser]].<ref name="dlf">[http://www.delafee.com/Edible+Gold+Creations_Information+on+edible+gold/ Gold in Gastronomy] deLafee, Switzerland (2008)</ref>
Using edible silver and gold foils on sweets, confectionery and desserts is not unique to the Indian subcontinent; other regions such as Japan and Europe have also been using precious metal foils as food cover and decoration, including specialty drinks such as [[Goldwasser]] and [[Goldschläger]].


===Vegetarian ethical issues===
===Vegetarian ethical issues===
Concerns have been raised about the ethical acceptability<ref name=varq1/> and food safety of Vark, as not all of it is pure silver, nor hygienically prepared, and the foil nowadays commonly is beaten between layers of ox-gut because it is easier to separate the silver leaf from animal tissue than to separate it from paper.<ref name=varq8/> Due to the grinding effect of the hammering, some of the animal intestine becomes part of the silver foil, which is sold in bulk.<ref name=varq7>Thanwardas Lilaram Vaswani, 1992, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ydJPAAAAYAAJ East and West Series], Issues 412-423, Page 10.</ref> [[Hindu]]{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} and [[Jain]] religions are mostly{{citation needed|date=November 2018}} vegetarian, this led to the decline in the usage of varq in sweets or [[supari]]s.<ref name=varq7/> [[Indian Airlines]] asked its caterers to not apply varaq to the food supplied to ensure no animal intestine is present.<ref name=varq7/> In 2016, [[Government of India]] banned the usage of animal guts or skins in the making of verk.<ref name=varq8>[http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/govt-slogs-its-guts-out-for-vegetarian-chandi-ka-vark.html Govt slogs its guts out for ‘vegetarian’ chandi ka vark], Daily Pioneer, 8 June 2016.</ref> Consequently, the Indian market for Vark has mostly converted to using the machine-based vegetarian process in the making of the silver foils. This directive was halted in 2017 as a result of job loss concerns.<ref name="vark16">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/health/delhi-high-court-stays-order-banning-use-of-silver-leaf-made-using-animal-material/story-91LxLGhwvJuMFabICzU74N.html|title=Delhi High Court stays order banning use of silver leaf made using animal material|date=2017-09-23|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-10-20|language=en}}</ref> [[Food Safety and Standards Authority of India]] has issued guidelines for the silver leaf manufactures to adhere to regarding thickness, weight, purity, labeling and hygiene of the silver leaf.<ref name=varq8/>
Concerns have been raised about the ethical acceptability<ref name=varq1/> and food safety of vark, as not all of it is pure silver, nor hygienically prepared, and the foil was until fairly recently beaten between layers of ox-gut because it is easier to separate the silver leaf from animal tissue than to separate it from paper.<ref name=varq8/> Due to the grinding effect of the hammering, some of the animal intestine becomes part of the silver foil, which is sold in bulk.<ref name=varq7>Thanwardas Lilaram Vaswani, 1992, [https://books.google.com/books?id=ydJPAAAAYAAJ East and West Series] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216124115/https://books.google.com/books?id=ydJPAAAAYAAJ |date=2020-02-16 }}, Issues 412-423, Page 10.</ref> Since [[Jainism|Jains]] and a considerable percentage of [[Hindus]] are vegetarian,<ref name=vrk8>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/07/08/eight-in-ten-indians-limit-meat-in-their-diets-and-four-in-ten-consider-themselves-vegetarian|title=Eight-in-ten Indians limit meat in their diets, and four-in-ten consider themselves vegetarian|date=8 July 2021 |access-date=2021-08-11|archive-date=2021-08-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210811112259/https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/07/08/eight-in-ten-indians-limit-meat-in-their-diets-and-four-in-ten-consider-themselves-vegetarian/|url-status=live}}</ref> this led to the decline in the usage of vark in sweets or [[supari]]s.<ref name=varq7/> [[Indian Airlines]] asked its caterers to not apply vark to the food supplied to ensure no animal intestine is present.<ref name=varq7/> In 2016, [[Government of India]] banned the usage of animal guts or skins in the making of vark.<ref name=varq8>[http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/govt-slogs-its-guts-out-for-vegetarian-chandi-ka-vark.html Govt slogs its guts out for ‘vegetarian’ chandi ka vark] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180108234846/http://www.dailypioneer.com/todays-newspaper/govt-slogs-its-guts-out-for-vegetarian-chandi-ka-vark.html |date=2018-01-08 }}, Daily Pioneer, 8 June 2016.</ref> Consequently, the Indian market for vark has mostly converted to using the machine-based vegetarian process in the making of the silver foils. [[Food Safety and Standards Authority of India]] has issued guidelines for the silver leaf manufactures to adhere to regarding thickness, weight, purity, labeling and hygiene of the silver leaf.<ref name=varq8/>


===Safety===
===Safety===
Gold and silver are approved food foils in the European Union, as E175 and E174 additives respectively. The independent European food-safety certification agency, TÜV Rheinland, has deemed gold leaf safe for consumption. Gold and silver leaf are also certified as [[kosher]]. These inert precious metal foils are not considered toxic to human beings nor to broader ecosystems.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2012/07/the_666_gold_wrapped_douche_burger_is_it_safe_to_eat_gold_.html Conspicuous Consumption] L.V. Anderson, Slate (July 16, 2012)</ref><ref>[http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=537&tid=97 Public Health Statement for Silver] ATSDR-CDC, US Government (December 1990)</ref> Large quantities of ingested bioactive silver can cause [[argyria]], but the use of edible silver or gold as ''vark'' is not considered harmful to the body, since the metal is in inert form (not ionic bioactive form), and the quantities involved in normal use are minuscule.<ref name="ss">{{cite web|url=http://indiacurrents.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=b8b860cc0946bef1dbe95caddfe4bcaa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203109/http://indiacurrents.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=b8b860cc0946bef1dbe95caddfe4bcaa|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2007|title=Silver Coating|last=Sarvate|first=Sarita|date=4 April 2005|publisher=India Currents|accessdate=2009-07-05|authorlink=Sarita Sarvate}}</ref>
Gold and silver are approved food foils in the European Union, as E175 and E174 additives respectively. The independent European food-safety certification agency, TÜV Rheinland, has deemed gold leaf safe for consumption. Gold and silver leaf are also certified as [[kosher]]. These inert precious metal foils are not considered toxic to human beings nor to broader ecosystems.<ref>[http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2012/07/the_666_gold_wrapped_douche_burger_is_it_safe_to_eat_gold_.html Conspicuous Consumption] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222082035/http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/explainer/2012/07/the_666_gold_wrapped_douche_burger_is_it_safe_to_eat_gold_.html |date=2018-12-22 }} L.V. Anderson, Slate (July 16, 2012)</ref><ref>[http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=537&tid=97 Public Health Statement for Silver] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131115191532/http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/phs/phs.asp?id=537&tid=97 |date=2013-11-15 }} ATSDR-CDC, US Government (December 1990)</ref> Large quantities of ingested bioactive silver can cause [[argyria]], but the use of edible silver or gold as ''vark'' is not considered harmful to the body, since the metal is in inert form (not ionic bioactive form), and the quantities involved in normal use are minuscule.<ref name="ss">{{cite web|url=http://indiacurrents.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=b8b860cc0946bef1dbe95caddfe4bcaa|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927203109/http://indiacurrents.com/news/view_article.html?article_id=b8b860cc0946bef1dbe95caddfe4bcaa|url-status=dead|archive-date=27 September 2007|title=Silver Coating|last=Sarvate|first=Sarita|date=4 April 2005|publisher=India Currents|access-date=2009-07-05|author-link=Sarita Sarvate}}</ref>


One study has found that about 10% of 178 foils studied from the [[Lucknow]] (India) market were made of [[aluminium]]. Of the tested foils, 46% of the samples were found to have the desired purity requirement of 99.9% silver, whereas the rest had less than 99.9% silver. All the tested Indian foils contained on average trace levels of nickel (487 [[Parts per million|ppm]]), lead (301 ppm), copper (324 ppm), chromium (83 ppm), cadmium (97 ppm) and manganese (43 ppm). All of these are lower than natural anthropogenic exposures of these metals; the authors suggest there is a need to address a lack of purity standards in European Union and Indian food additive grade silver.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Das|first1=Mukul|last2=Dixit|first2=S.|last3=Khanna|first3=S. K.|title=Justifying the need to prescribe limits for toxic metal contaminants in food-grade silver foils|journal=Food Additives & Contaminants|volume=22|pages=1219|year=2005|doi=10.1080/02652030500215235|issue=12 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry], See toxicity, food and exposure papers on nickel, lead, copper, chromium, cadmium and manganese.</ref> The total silver metal intake per kilogram of sweets eaten, from vark, is less than one milligram.<ref name=varq8/>
One study has found that about 10% of 178 foils studied from the [[Lucknow]] (India) market were made of [[aluminium]]. Of the tested foils, 46% of the samples were found to have the desired purity requirement of 99.9% silver, whereas the rest had less than 99.9% silver. All the tested Indian foils contained on average trace levels of nickel (487&nbsp;[[Parts per million|ppm]]), lead (301&nbsp;ppm), copper (324&nbsp;ppm), chromium (83&nbsp;ppm), cadmium (97&nbsp;ppm) and manganese (43&nbsp;ppm). All of these are lower than natural anthropogenic exposures of these metals; the authors suggest there is a need to address a lack of purity standards in European Union and Indian food additive grade silver.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Das|first1=Mukul|last2=Dixit|first2=S.|last3=Khanna|first3=S. K.|title=Justifying the need to prescribe limits for toxic metal contaminants in food-grade silver foils|journal=Food Additives & Contaminants|volume=22|pages=1219–1223|year=2005|doi=10.1080/02652030500215235|issue=12 |pmid=16356885|s2cid=23931597}}</ref><ref>[https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160209021147/http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/ |date=2016-02-09 }}, See toxicity, food and exposure papers on nickel, lead, copper, chromium, cadmium and manganese.</ref> The total silver metal intake per kilogram of sweets eaten, from vark, is less than one milligram.<ref name=varq8/>


==See also==
==See also==

Latest revision as of 07:41, 27 November 2024

For other uses, see Vark (disambiguation).
Vark or Waraq
Indian barfi sweets garnished with vark
Alternative namesVarq, Varaq, vark, varak, varakh, varakha, etc.
TypeGarnish
Place of originIndian Subcontinent
Region or stateSouth Asia
Main ingredientsSilver, Gold

Vark (also varak Waraq or warq) is a fine filigree foil sheet of pure metal, typically silver but sometimes gold,[1] used to decorate South Asian sweets and food. The silver and gold are edible, though flavorless. Vark is made by pounding silver into sheets less than one micrometre (μm) thick, typically 0.2–0.8 μm. The silver sheets are typically packed between layers of paper for support; this paper is peeled away before use.[2] It is fragile and breaks into smaller pieces if handled with direct skin contact. Leaf that is 0.2 μm thick tends to stick to skin if handled directly.

Vark sheets are laid or rolled over some South Asian sweets, confectionery, dry fruits and spices.[3][4] It is also placed onto mounds of saffron rice on platters.[4][5][6]

For safety and ethical reasons, the Government of India has issued food safety and product standards guidelines for manufacturers of silver foil.[7]

History

[edit]

Etymology

[edit]
A tray of South Asian sweets, with some pieces covered with shiny vark

Varaka means cloth, cloak or a thing that covers something else. Vark is sometimes spelled Varaq, varq, vark, varkh, varakh, varkha, or waraq (Hindi: वरक़, Urdu: ورق Hindi pronunciation: [ʋəɾəq]). In Persian, varaqa or barga, means a sheet, leaf or foil.

Product

[edit]
Silver-coated spices

Manufacturing

[edit]

Vark is made by placing the pure metal dust between parchment sheets, then pounding the sheets until the metal dust molds into a foil,[5] usually less than one micrometre (μm) thick, typically 0.2–0.8 μm. The sheets are typically packed with paper for support; this paper is peeled away before use.[1] it generally takes 2 hours to pound the silver particles into foils.[8]

Particles were traditionally manually pounded between the layers of ox gut or cow hide.[8] It is easier to separate the silver leaf from the animal tissue than to separate it from the paper. Due to the concerns of the vegetarian population of India, manufacturers have switched to the modern technologies that have evolved for the production of silver leaves in India, Germany, Russia and China.[1] Modern technologies include beating over sheets of black special treated paper or polyester sheets coated with food grade calcium powder (nicknamed "German plastic") are used instead of ox-guts or cow hide.[8] Old City in Hyderabad used to be the hub of traditional manual manufacturing, where it is a dying trade.[8] Delhi is a new hub of vark manufacturing in India.

Usage as food

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The silver is edible, though flavourless. It is also commonly used in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh as coating on sweets, dry fruits, and in sugar balls, betel nuts, cardamom, and other spices.[4] Estimated consumption of vark is 275 tons annually.

Using edible silver and gold foils on sweets, confectionery and desserts is not unique to the Indian subcontinent; other regions such as Japan and Europe have also been using precious metal foils as food cover and decoration, including specialty drinks such as Goldwasser and Goldschläger.

Vegetarian ethical issues

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Concerns have been raised about the ethical acceptability[8] and food safety of vark, as not all of it is pure silver, nor hygienically prepared, and the foil was until fairly recently beaten between layers of ox-gut because it is easier to separate the silver leaf from animal tissue than to separate it from paper.[7] Due to the grinding effect of the hammering, some of the animal intestine becomes part of the silver foil, which is sold in bulk.[9] Since Jains and a considerable percentage of Hindus are vegetarian,[10] this led to the decline in the usage of vark in sweets or suparis.[9] Indian Airlines asked its caterers to not apply vark to the food supplied to ensure no animal intestine is present.[9] In 2016, Government of India banned the usage of animal guts or skins in the making of vark.[7] Consequently, the Indian market for vark has mostly converted to using the machine-based vegetarian process in the making of the silver foils. Food Safety and Standards Authority of India has issued guidelines for the silver leaf manufactures to adhere to regarding thickness, weight, purity, labeling and hygiene of the silver leaf.[7]

Safety

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Gold and silver are approved food foils in the European Union, as E175 and E174 additives respectively. The independent European food-safety certification agency, TÜV Rheinland, has deemed gold leaf safe for consumption. Gold and silver leaf are also certified as kosher. These inert precious metal foils are not considered toxic to human beings nor to broader ecosystems.[11][12] Large quantities of ingested bioactive silver can cause argyria, but the use of edible silver or gold as vark is not considered harmful to the body, since the metal is in inert form (not ionic bioactive form), and the quantities involved in normal use are minuscule.[13]

One study has found that about 10% of 178 foils studied from the Lucknow (India) market were made of aluminium. Of the tested foils, 46% of the samples were found to have the desired purity requirement of 99.9% silver, whereas the rest had less than 99.9% silver. All the tested Indian foils contained on average trace levels of nickel (487 ppm), lead (301 ppm), copper (324 ppm), chromium (83 ppm), cadmium (97 ppm) and manganese (43 ppm). All of these are lower than natural anthropogenic exposures of these metals; the authors suggest there is a need to address a lack of purity standards in European Union and Indian food additive grade silver.[14][15] The total silver metal intake per kilogram of sweets eaten, from vark, is less than one milligram.[7]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Gold in Gastronomy Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine deLafee, Switzerland (2008)
  2. ^ Madhu Gadia, 2000, New Indian Home Cooking: More Than 100 Delicious Nutritional, and Easy Low-fat recipes Archived 2023-10-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ DK, 2017, The Periodic Table Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of the Elements Archived 2023-10-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ a b c Vijaya Ghose, Jaya Ramanathan, and Renuka N. Khandekar, 1992, Tirtha, the Treasury of Indian Expressions Archived 2023-10-25 at the Wayback Machine, Page 61.
  5. ^ a b Maya Tiwari, 2005, Ayurveda: A Life of Balance : the Complete Guide to Ayurvedic Archived 2023-10-25 at the Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ 1989, The Illustrated Weekly of India Archived 2023-10-25 at the Wayback Machine, Volume 110, Issues 36-44 - Page 39.
  7. ^ a b c d e Govt slogs its guts out for ‘vegetarian’ chandi ka vark Archived 2018-01-08 at the Wayback Machine, Daily Pioneer, 8 June 2016.
  8. ^ a b c d e ‘Chandi ka Warq’ business may become history soon Archived 2018-02-14 at the Wayback Machine, The Economic Times, 8 Jan 2018.
  9. ^ a b c Thanwardas Lilaram Vaswani, 1992, East and West Series Archived 2020-02-16 at the Wayback Machine, Issues 412-423, Page 10.
  10. ^ "Eight-in-ten Indians limit meat in their diets, and four-in-ten consider themselves vegetarian". 8 July 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-08-11. Retrieved 2021-08-11.
  11. ^ Conspicuous Consumption Archived 2018-12-22 at the Wayback Machine L.V. Anderson, Slate (July 16, 2012)
  12. ^ Public Health Statement for Silver Archived 2013-11-15 at archive.today ATSDR-CDC, US Government (December 1990)
  13. ^ Sarvate, Sarita (4 April 2005). "Silver Coating". India Currents. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 2009-07-05.
  14. ^ Das, Mukul; Dixit, S.; Khanna, S. K. (2005). "Justifying the need to prescribe limits for toxic metal contaminants in food-grade silver foils". Food Additives & Contaminants. 22 (12): 1219–1223. doi:10.1080/02652030500215235. PMID 16356885. S2CID 23931597.
  15. ^ Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Archived 2016-02-09 at the Wayback Machine, See toxicity, food and exposure papers on nickel, lead, copper, chromium, cadmium and manganese.
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