Dubai: A senior municipal official has clarified that “gold tea” contains such a minute of gold that it neither harms nor benefits consumers.
Speaking on the heels of a wave of public scrutiny that looked into the claims that gold tea is merely a commercial product that allegedly exploits consumers, Khalid Sharif, Director of the Food Control Department at Dubai Municipality, clarified that a warning has not been issued against tea mixed with gold.
“It is pure gold but its quantity found [in the tea] is very little. It does not harm or benefit consumers as the gold added to the tea is a very small quantity. It is the same as adding cardamom to the tea, as the gold merely adds a distinct flavour to it,” said Sharif.
“The only awareness we have given to the public is not to believe that the gold properties will be beneficial. It is also not harmful because if it were, we would not have authorised the outlet to operate, nor would it have received its trade license from the Chamber of Commerce,” explained Sharif.
A café founder that has been selling tea with gold in Dubai for the last month has also clarified that he has not claimed that the gold has beneficial health properties, and that the myth of mixing gold or silver with tea and food to serve as a beneficial health property has been around for centuries.
In addition to the myth of mixing gold with tea, Asian sweets also contain small quantities of gold and silver flakes that are also spread on the delicacies.
“I never claimed that the gold has health benefits, only that it is relaxing and offers consumers with a distinctive flavour of tea,” said Ashraf Mahran, cafe founder and partner at Mocca Art Cafe, Downtown Dubai.
He pointed out that according to international standards, 30 to 40 grams of gold is added to one kilogram of tea powder to make the gold tea, and that it is completely safe for human consumption.
A cup of 22 karat tea is sold for Dh55, while one of its competitors at Dubai Mall sells its 24 karat tea at Dh228 per cup.
“I was selling the cup of tea at a promotional price and am making the minimum amount of profit. I was planning to sell it at a higher price but after these concerns, I intend to keep the same price,” he said, adding that he receives about 25 customers per day requesting gold tea.
