Gold leaf is prepared from 24k gold bar with 999.9 purity. Gold being an element has the unique ability to be compressed to such an extent, without destroying its structure. A gold sheet is a thick plate of gold obtained by the first hammering or rolling of the gold or gold alloy. Gold foils have an intermediate thickness, more than about 10 µm, obtained by hammering or rolling the sheets. Gold leaves are obtained by beating. Their thickness is smaller than 10 µm and can be as low as 0.1 µm. They are not able to support their own mass and must be handled with a special knife blade or brush. It is extremely brittle and breaks into smaller pieces if touched directly with hand. Extra thin leaves get stuck on hand and then it vanished due to extreme low thickness (due to thickness close to inter-atomic distance). Waraq sheets are laid or rolled over some south asian sweets. Edible silver and gold leaves on sweets, confectionery and desserts is not unique to the indian subcontinent; people from other regions such as japan and europe have long used precious metal foils as food cover and additive, including special drinks.

Gold leaf is prepared from 24k gold bar with 999.9 purity. Gold being an element has the unique ability to be compressed to such an extent, without destroying its structure. A gold sheet is a thick plate of gold obtained by the first hammering or rolling of the gold or gold alloy. Gold foils have an intermediate thickness, more than about 10 µm, obtained by hammering or rolling the sheets. Gold leaves are obtained by beating. Their thickness is smaller than 10 µm and can be as low as 0.1 µm. They are not able to support their own mass and must be handled with a special knife blade or brush. It is extremely brittle and breaks into smaller pieces if touched directly with hand. Extra thin leaves get stuck on hand and then it vanished due to extreme low thickness (due to thickness close to inter-atomic distance). Waraq sheets are laid or rolled over some south asian sweets. Edible silver and gold leaves on sweets, confectionery and desserts is not unique to the indian subcontinent; people from other regions such as japan and europe have long used precious metal foils as food cover and additive, including special drinks.