According to a feature article in Business India, an astounding 275 tons of silv

er are eaten annually into foil for sweets and chyavanprash! That is a whopping
2,75,000 kilograms! (At the present market rate that would cost a phenomenal Rs.
165 Crore or $ 40 million U.S. Dollars).
Just how is varakh made and what is it that makes its preparation and consumptio
n so sinful?
Varakh is not derived from an animal source. However, a crucial material of anim
al origin, ox-gut, is used in its manufacture. This ox-gut is obtained from the
slaughterhouse.
In the by lanes of the villages of Ahmedabad (Gujarat state, India) and other ci
ties, amidst filthy surroundings, placed between layers of ox-gut, small thin st
rips of silver are hammered to produce the glittering foil.
The intestine (ox-gut), smeared with blood and mucus, is pulled out from the sla
ughtered animal by the butcher at the slaughterhouse, and sold for the specific
purpose. Note that it is not a by-product of slaughter, but like everything else
meat, hide, and bones are sold by weight. This is then taken away to be cleaned
and used in the manufacture of varakh.
The gut of an average cow, measuring 540 inches in length and 3 inches in diamet
er, is cut open into a piece measuring 540" x 10". From this, strips of 9" x 10"
are cut to give approximately 60 pieces of ox-gut, which are then piled one ont
o another and bound to form a book of 171 leaves.
Next, small thin strips of silver are placed between the sheets and the book sli
pped into a leather pouch (note that the use of leather-an animal product again)
. Artisans then hammer these bundles continuously for a day to produce extremely
thin foils of silver of 3" x 5".
The leather and ox-gut, being supple, can withstand the intense manual hammering
for up to 8 hours a day till such time as the silver is beaten to the desired t
hickness. When ready, the foil is carefully lifted from between the leaves of ox
-gut and placed between sheets of paper to be sold to the sweet makers (mithaiwa
llas). A booklet of 160 foils weighs approximately 10 grams and costs about Rs.
200 ($5.00).
To make a single booklet of 171 sheets, the guts of 3 cows are used. And the yie
ld per book is generally 160 foils of silver, the rest of which may be damaged o
r unfit for use. Thus one book, used on an average of 300 days of the year yield
s approximately 48,000 foils of silver which means that each ox-gut yields an es
timated 16,000 foils.
The leather used for the pouch to hold the book (made from ox-gut), is cowhide o
r calf leather, and uses about 232 sq. inches of material. Assuming the size of
an average cowhide to be 18 sq. ft or 2,600 sq. Inches, the yield per hide will
be approximately 10 leather pouches.
Usually 4 foils are used per kilograms (2.2 lbs.) of sweets and the ox-gut of on
e cow is used to produce foil for approximately 4,000 kilograms (9,000 lbs.) of
sweets. It is estimated (by Surveys) that the average consumption of sweets by a
middle class family of four in India is about 100 kilograms per year.
Thus, an average middle class Indian family of four consuming approximately 100
kg of sweets per year for forty years consumes silver foil produced with the gut
of 3 cows and one-tenth of a cowhide!
India is not the only country where foil is made by such methods. In Germany, sm
all-specialized enterprises produce gold leaf, which is beaten down to 1/10,000millimeter thickness, for decorative and technical purposes by similar methods.
The Jews use the gold foil for as much the same purposes, namely for food prepar
ations, as it is in India.
In India the 275 tons of silver that are beaten annually into varakh utilize int
estines of 516,000 cows and calf leather of 17,200 animals each year.
Therefore, we make alternate method by machine
http://www.sanchetiexports.com/silver-leaves.php
http://www.google.co.in/#hl=en&sclient=psy-ab&q=Silver+Leaf+(Chandi+Varak)++manu

facturing+process&oq=Silver+Leaf+(Chandi+Varak)++manufacturing+process&gs_l=hp.3
...105169.115975.4.116180.22.22.0.0.0.0.410.4435.0j17j4j0j1.22.0...0.0...1c.1.9.
psy-ab.YHAh-YiCscw&pbx=1&bav=on.2,or.r_qf.&bvm=bv.45175338,d.bmk&fp=3e30c717cd60
34f1&biw=1440&bih=799

It is 100% pure vegetarian as its fully machine made Silver leaf/foil. 99.99% pu
re Laboratory certified Silver.
The thickness of Silver leaves ranges between 0.2 micron to 0.4 micron which is
not possible by hand. Available in 100mm*100mm; 110mm*110mm; 125mm*125mm and 140
mm*140mm size and also as per your requirement.
Uses of Silver Leaves
These leaves are pasted on idols of Indian Gods & Goddesses & for decorating tem
ples.
Decorating Indian Sweets, Paan, Paan Chutney, Chavanprash, Mouth fresheners, Coa
ting of Beetle Nuts & Dry Fruits, Bakery Products, Cakes etc.
They are also used in traditional Ayurvedic Medicines, cosmetics, chocolates, wi
ne and ceiling decorating.
Natural benefits of Silver Leaves
Prevents bacterial growth and keeps food fresh longer.
Stimulates Natural Immunity.
Tones up the body.
Promotes healthy bones and joints.
Kills Germs and Viruses
Fight allergies and ill effects of pollution
Silver Passion
Wine Collection wine accessories were created because of the passion for Silver:
a noble metal with unique properties, that enhances the taste of food and drink
s let emerge their distinctive traits.
Silver wine glasses, goblets and decanters are used with the purpose to profit o
f these noble metal characteristics of exalting the purest essence of each wine.
Medical properties of silver have been know to ancient Greek.
It was observed that those families who eat using silver cutlery were less affec
ted by infection and ailments.
After one or two generations eating with Silver Cutlery Makes the body resistant
from infection and diseases.
Silver has strong antibacterial properties: a small quantity of silver in a solu
tion makes strong action against microbes.
The colloidal Silver was of common use, especially in US, from the end of 1800ce
nturey untill1938 and was recommended for many kind of infections: Acne, arthrit
is, burning, blood poisoned, cancer, candid albicans, cholera, conductivities, c
ystic diphtheria. Diabetes, dysentery, eczema, herpes, herpes zoste, eye infecti
ons, ear infections, streptococcus infection, flu, leprosy, lupus, malaria etc
Jim Powel wrote in the scientist magazine Science Digest (March 1978) Our Stronger
antibacterial thanks to modern research, Silver is rising as a wonder of the Mode
rn Medicine, an antibiotic can kill an doz. Of bacteria, Silver about 650
The Silver Today
In Canada, Switzerland and USA doctors use various kind of Silver to heal differ
ent infections.
The NASA uses Silver for Water Purification on the Space Shuttle.
Air Carriers: Air France, Alitalia, British Airways, Canadian Pacific, Japan Air
lines, KLM, Lufthansa, Olympic, Pan Amaro, Svedese, SAS and Swiss air use Silver
water filters.