Flakes of gold have traditionally been added to food and drinks such as teas and chocolates in many countries.  Gold flakes can even be found in numerous cosmetic products.  The Italian cinnamon schnapps Goldschläger is a clear liqueur known for containing very thin but visible real flakes of gold swirling within.  In actuality only about a tenth of a gram of gold is contained in a 750mL bottle.  Goldschläger is a German word meaning “gold beater” and describes the profession of gold leaf makers who beat bars of gold into thin sheets.  A myth associated with why the liqueur contains gold flakes is that the flakes of gold make microscopic cuts along the lining of the esophagus and stomach hastening the time it takes for the alcohol to enter the bloodstream and thus shortening the amount of time to reach intoxication.  However, because gold, especially 24k gold which is used in the liqueur, is soft and malleable the flakes have no sharp edges and therefore cannot scratch or cut anything.