How is Varakh made?

Well yes, we wouldn’t deny the fact that by and large, Varakh is made by pounding silver metal between two surfaces of animal tissue. Animals with tender skin are identified for slaughter (primarily sheep and baby goats) so that the epidermal layer of their skin can be used in the Varakh manufacturing process.

How do you make a VARK?

Varak is made by placing the pure metal dust between parchment sheets, then pounding the sheets until the metal dust mold into a foil, usually a few micrometres (μm) thick, typically 0.2 μm-0.8 μm. The sheets are typically packed with paper for support; this paper is peeled away before use.

What is Chandi varak made of?

Vark, also called varak (also silver leaf, German paper), is any leaf composed of pure metals, typically silver but sometimes gold, used on South Asian sweets. The silver is edible, though flavorless. Varak is made by pounding silver into sheets, a few micrometres(µm) thick, typically 0.2 µm-0.8 µm.

How are silver leaves made?

Fine silver foil or silver leaf, is used to decorate sweets and traditional desserts and spices such as cardamom and sweet paan. They are manufactured mostly in traditional units where the silver is placed between layers of animal intestine obtained from slaughterhouses, and then hammered into a fine foil.

Where does the material for varakh come from?

Varakh is not derived from an animal source. However, a crucial material of animal origin, ox-gut, is used in its manufacture. This ox-gut is obtained from the slaughterhouse.

Can you use varakh in flavored syrups?

Varakh is also used in flavored syrups as in kesar (saffron) syrup. Several years ago, as suggested by BWC, Indian Airlines instructed their caterers to stop the use of varakh on sweets (mithai) served on board their flights. Today, many ask for sweets without varakh, having realized the cruelty involved in its preparation.

How is the varkha or silver foil used in sweets made?

Silver foil, or varakh, as it is generally known in India, adds glitter to Indian sweets (mithai), supari (betel nut), paan (betel-leaf), and fruits. Also it is used in Ayurvedic medicines and on deities in many Jain temples.

What makes the varakh ( silver foil ) carcinogenic?

In India the 275 tons of silver that are beaten annually into varakh utilize intestines of 516,000 cows and calf leather of 17,200 animals each year. What makes the varakh carcinogenic? Often, the silver is adulterated with other metals such as aluminum. Aluminum is hazardous for health and carcinogenic in nature.