“An ice cream shop in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, offers a SUNDAE made with vanilla scoops sprinkled with flecks of 23-carat EDIBLE GOLD.”

National Geographic 5,000 Awesome Facts, Fact # 7 out of 35 on Decadent Desserts

Scoopi, a dessert shop in Dubai, has been awarded the Guinness World Record for the “Black Diamond,” the most expensive dessert. This lavish ice cream sundae sets a new record in the world of indulgent treats.

This “Black Diamond” dessert contains “Madagascar vanilla ice cream, along with an expensive Iranian saffron and is decorated with slices of black Italian truffle” with 24 karat edible gold sprinkled on top. (expatwoman.com)

Edible gold must be 23-24 karats to prevent any risk of infection or harm to the body.

This dessert costs 60,000 RS (Indian Rupees), or $714.70 in United States currency, and usually served in a Versace cup. (news18.com/news/buzz/dubais)

A Versace cup is a “Crystal-embellished stainless steel travel cup.”

Gold usually undergoes one of these processes where it could be hammered, pounded and rolled, or just leaf or powder where it then turns into edible gold.

Edible gold has been used since ancient times in various regions of the world for mental, bodily, and spiritual purification, due to the believed divine effects. The earliest evidence of its use dates back to the Ancient Egyptians.

It could also be found in eastern countries such as Japan, China and India mostly for medicine made up by court physicians.

In the Middle Ages, gold was used as food decorations and symbols of luxury among vassals and courtiers, while in the Renaissance it was utilized in the development of medicinal products in the form of pills or powder.

Although it is safe to eat, at 23 or 24 karats, there are no nutritional or health benefits associated with consumption of edible gold.

Edible gold sheets, measuring 1.7″ x 1.7″, are available on Amazon for $8.99, with each pack containing 10 gold foil sheets.

Popularity due to social media in the current years have added a rising demand for edible gold in the 21st century.