India’s love for gold reaches fast food as US$12 burgers cause a storm

Gold-coated food has existed in India since the 17th century, when it was served to kings and illustrious guests

During festivals such as Diwali, shops overflow with gift hampers containing silver varq-coated fruits and nuts to be exchanged as gifts

Reading Time:3 minutes

A gold-coated burger by India's Louis Burger. Photo: Facebook

Published: 1:03pm, 20 Oct 2021Updated: 1:02pm, 20 Oct 2021

In gold-obsessed India, edible gold leaf-plated burgers have become all the rage after a Mumbai restaurant launched the offerings in July.

Louis Burger’s two creations triggered such an “overwhelming demand”, it plans to open new branches to sell them across the country.

The “Louis Grand Royale” comes with a double buff patty, shimeji, truffle and English cheddar between two gold-topped buns, and goes for 695 rupees (US$9.25).

The “Truffle Take Burger” – crafted with shiitake mushrooms, truffle mayo, shimeji, truffle, English cheddar, Parmesan and truffle oil – costs 888 rupees (US$11.85), which amounts to two days’ income for the average daily wager.

Few countries are as crazy about the yellow metal than India. As the second-largest buyer of gold after China, Indians purchased 315.9 tons of gold-use jewellery in 2020 despite a raging pandemic. Jewellers expect that sales volumes will surge amid a decline in gold prices, according to a Bloomberg report.

India’s love for gold reaches fast food as US$12 burgers cause a storm

Gold-coated food has existed in India since the 17th century, when it was served to kings and illustrious guests During festivals such as Diwali, shops overflow with gift hampers containing silver varq-coated fruits and nuts to be exchanged as gifts

Gold-coated food has existed in India since the 17th century, when it was served to kings and illustrious guests

During festivals such as Diwali, shops overflow with gift hampers containing silver varq-coated fruits and nuts to be exchanged as gifts