What does gold have to do with food?
Gold (and other metallic colors too) have been quite common food dyes in Europe, as shown in the pictures behind.
Gold leaf (as well as other Metal leaf such as Vark) is sometimes used to decorate food or drinks, typically to promote a perception of luxury and high value, though it is flavorless. It is usually found in desserts and confectionery, including chocolates and mithai.
In Asian countries, gold is sometimes used in fruit jelly snacks. It was also used in coffee, particularly during the Japanese asset price bubble. In Kanazawa, where Japan's gold leaf production was centered, gold leaf shops and workshops sold green tea and hard candy with gold leaf in them. In the late 1870s, alcohol was consumed with gold leaves to give the appearance of great wealth.
A recent trend in the US has seen the inclusion of floating bits of gold leaf in liquors such as Goldschläger. However, in Continental Europe liquors with such bits of gold leaf are known since the late 16th century. Well-known examples are Danziger Goldwasser, originally from Gdańsk, Poland, which has been produced since at least 1598 and Goldstrike from Amsterdam.
Throwback Time!