What Color Should My Ghee Be?

Does the color of ghee reflect the quality of the product? The short answer: Yes!

Different varieties of ghee come with varied textures, colors and tastes. Some of that has to do with the process by which it’s made, but quality ghee really starts with the the milk used to make the butter from which ghee is then produced. At it’s simplest, ghee is a clarified butter that originated in India, and is now becoming a staple of both professional and home kitchens. But, there is so much more to it than that. In ancient philosophies, milk contains the essence of plants eaten by the cow; then, the “most hidden part of milk” appears—ghee. An easy to observe factor that points to well-made ghee: the color ranges from pale to a golden yellow, the result of an increase in beta-carotene. In addition to myriad health benefits, this attention to sourcing and the cooking process creates a sweet, light and subtly flavorful ghee that’s highly desirable in any recipe

The best producers only use the very best butter to make ghee, which isn’t always easy. “There are very few suppliers with the ability to make a truly grassfed butter,” says Hima Pal, founder of Tin Star Foods and a ghee pioneer in America. “We source our butter directly from farms in America and Ireland--and make sure it doesn’t come from cows treated with growth hormones, antibiotics or GMO grass/feed.” It’s even more difficult when it comes to producing 100% organic ghee. “Only a handful of Amish dairy farmers on the East Coast can keep up with the volume,” says Pal. “It’s a huge challenge, but our mission is to make the most nutrient-rich animal fats on the market accessible, approachable and affordable to our customers.”

 So, yes, the color of ghee does reflect on the quality of the product. On a good day, the finished product reminds us of the rising and setting sun, which feeds the grass, which feeds the cows, and makes the ghee. See where we’re going with this?