Sparkle, Deception, and Unicorn Poop

Glittery drinks are one of the hottest food trends right now. Back in March when I was planning drinks for St. Patrick’s Day, I knew I definitely wanted something sparkly.

Of course, I did what everyone does – turned to the internet for advice.

Curiously, none of the influencers or recipes explained what edible glitter was. And as I continued my glittering journey, I learned influencers have been deceiving us on other details as well.

What Is Edible Glitter?

There are two kinds of glitter.

• Culinary (or edible) glitter used in foods; and

• Regular or craft glitter, the kind used by children in kindergarten, along with construction paper and copious amounts of paste.

Confusion arises because edible glitter and craft glitter are often sold in the same general “Party Supplies” area of stores. You could pick up a jar of craft glitter and see the words “Non Toxic” and think, this is edible glitter.

You would be wrong.

Non toxic simply means the glitter won’t kill you if you eat it. But you still shouldn’t be eating it. It’s made primarily from plastic and aluminum (yum!) Look for glitter that says “Food Grade.” It’s often called “dust” instead of glitter.

Another way to tell the difference? Edible glitter is sold in teeny tiny bottles (about the size of a bottle of nail polish) and is several times the price of craft glitter.

Angry Fairy Dust

When I opened my tiny jar of glitter, I accidentally spilled some. (What can I say – I get enthusiastic in the kitchen sometimes.) The golden glitter was so fine it rose up in a cloud of angry fairy dust. It gilded me, my vintage Billy Idol T-shirt, and cutoff shorts. It gilded Luigi, watching disapprovingly from the top of the refrigerator. It turned my kitchen into a twinkling golden wonderland. Then it wandered off down the hall, skipping in and out of rooms and leaving a merry trail of golden sparkles behind. The naughty dust even found its way into some of my unmentionables – and most of my mentionables.

And there’s no easy way to clean up a glitter mishap. Sweeping and dusting only assist the glitter in spreading.

As for the glitter that gets on your skin and in your hair? Taking a shower only helps marginally. For a week I looked like I had sprayed myself with Y2K glitter body spray and was on my way to a club.

You have to be patient, and wait for the particles to eventually hitchhike their way out of the house.

A Brief, But Important, Warning

Many influencers recommended rimming the glass with edible glitter. I knew right then they, themselves, had never had a party and served real people glitter rimmed drinks.

I don’t care what influencers say. Edible glitter does not adhere to a glass with just a little water or lime juice on the rim. You need to rim the glass with something very sticky – simple syrup, agave, honey if you’re a beegan. Glue if you are an influencer creating a reel.

Be aware you risk a shimmering kitchen and shimmering guests. (See Angry Fairy Dust.)

Much better to use sparkling sugar or salt! Advantages include: (1) Adheres with any liquid; (2) The large crystals make a bigger, bolder statement; and (3) Both sugar and salt dissolve in water, which means easy cleanup!

Soft Shimmers and Glowing Glimmers

Expect edible glitter to give your drink a shimmering, glimmering glow, not all out sparkle. That beautiful, blinding drink the influencer is holding that looks like she threw a mirrorball into a blender? – That glitter came from her toddler’s art project, not the food aisles.

Like Snow in Charlotte, Glitter Doesn’t Last Long

Something influencers NEVER tell you:

In accordance with fundamental buoyancy and density principles, the particulate fraction undergoes downward migration until achieving a state of maximum gravitational potential minimization.

In other words, heavy things go down. Things sink in water. And your glitter will settle in the bottom of your glass in approximately 3 minutes. Those influencers with their perfect, stunningly sparkly drinks? Someone was doing A LOT of stirring between photos. Or, if a reel, hiding in the shadows with a big spoon.

(I don’t know why I typed that; it’s midnight and the thought of someone hiding in the shadows with a big spoon is inexplicably creeping me out. Guess that’s why they’re the influencers and not me.)

Not All Is Lost

The glitter will last marginally longer if the drink is very, very cold.

You can also try making the drink more viscous with a little grenadine syrup or agave nectar.

Or try a glittering garnish. Mint or basil leaves, rose petals. They float in the drink, attracting the glitter as it settles. The effect is surprisingly pretty.

If all else fails, just give the glass a good stir before you hand it to your guest and make sure they admire it right away.

The Biggest Thing Influencers Don’t Tell You

Food grade glitter may be edible, but it’s not digestible.

It’s an important difference.

The glitter enters your body with your evening drink, waves hello at your digestive system, and in the morning – exits. I can think of no way to describe it other than unicorn poop.

You may also fart glitter as well, I don’t know. Could be something to investigate on a day when you are really, really, really, really bored.

The Final Question

Is edible food glitter vegan? Usually, it is, but reading the ingredients it can be hard to tell. “Mica Based Pearlescent Pigment.” Wow, that was helpful. It’s safe to assume mica is vegan – most rocks, as far as we know, are. That pearlescent pigment could mean anything, though. Luckily, many bottles have Vegan printed right on the label. The glitter I used – Ediglow – was labeled, Kosher, Halaal, and Vegan.