For hundreds of years, ghee has been an integral part of the diet of Indian families - so much so that it is sometimes called "liquid gold". It was originally used mainly for food, but it still plays a significant role in Ayurvedic health benefits. While ghee can be found in many countries around the world, not all ghee is made equal. Today, there are two primary types of ghee on the market: Bilona-style Ghee made specifically using the traditional method and Factory-made ghee.

By understanding how these two types differ, you can make informed decisions to find ghee that is best for your family. In this article, we will compare Bilona and Factory Ghee and point out 7 ways Traditional Ghee differs from Regular Ghee.

What is Bilona Ghee?

Bilona Ghee is a traditional ghee made using an old-fashioned method known as Bilona. The Bilona method has been practised in India for thousands of years. Using this method, ghee is made from curds, not cream.

To bring you up to speed on how ghee is created using the Bilona method: the process involves these steps:

1) Take fresh cow’s milk and boil it.

2) Then take the boiled milk and turn it into curds.

3) Use a wooden churner called a Bilona to churn (separating) the curds.

4) Once you have butter, you can heat the butter slowly until it becomes pure ghee.

This slow, old-fashioned way of making ghee preserves both the nutritional value of the ghee and the ghee’s natural smell and flavour.

What is Factory-Made Ghee?

Factory-made ghee, sometimes called ordinary ghee, is made with industrial processes rather than curd, as most manufacturers use large quantities of cream from milk to make it. To produce large quantities of ghee as quickly as possible, the cream is processed through machines and at high temperatures. While factory-made ghee is easier to buy than traditional Bilona ghee and less expensive, the two types are processed very differently.

7 Differences Between Bilona Ghee and Factory-Made Ghee

Let’s understand the major differences between traditional and regular ghee.

1. How to Make Ghee

The major distinction of Bilona from regular is in how it is prepared — the two have entirely different methods of producing ghee:

a. Bilona Ghee

- Created using curds that are churned with a wooden Bilona

- Uses a traditional slow process

b. Factory Ghee

- Made from cream and uses industrial machines

- Rapid production.

When prepared by the Bilona method, due to the time and labour that go into it, ghee maintains its natural properties.

2. Nutritional Comparison

Based on the way it is prepared, Bilona and factory ghee will also differ in terms of nutrition.

Bilona has:

- Higher concentrations of healthy fats.

- Better fat-soluble vitamins.

- More natural nutrition.

The nutrients are better retained in bilona due to the slow preparation from cultured curds.

Factory ghee may also lose some vitamins due to high cooking temperatures and mass production methods.

3. Flavour & Aroma

Bilona vs Factory Ghee: How Flavour & Aroma Differentiate Them

When it comes down to taste, you can tell the difference between bilona and factory-made ghee very quickly.

Bilona Ghee

Rich in nutty flavours

Strongly aromatic, with a more natural scent

Contains some grainy texture

Factory Ghee

Fairly mild in flavour

Less aromatic than bilona ghee

Has a smooth texture.

The traditional ghee that many people remember from their grandmothers' kitchens in villages is similar to the taste of bilona ghee.

4. Digestibility

Many people view bilona ghee as being easier to digest than factory ghee.

Bilona ghee is made from fermented curds and will therefore ferment properly (thus producing good bacteria), making it easier for your body to assimilate food.

Ayurvedic practitioners often recommend using traditional ghee due to its many benefits, such as:

Improving gut health

Increasing metabolism

Assisting with nutrient absorption

Factory-made ghee does not undergo fermentation like bilona ghee, making it take longer (and therefore more difficult) to digest for some people.

5. Scale of production

The method by which the regular ghee and the traditional ghee are produced from scratch differs.

Bilona ghee is produced in small quantities, often by villages or a farm with limited production capabilities. 

Factory ghee is produced in large-scale dairies, giving factory ghee an almost unlimited supply available to most people.

Because bilona ghee is produced in small quantities, it is deemed to be more authentic.

6. Price differences

Because of several factors, there is a large difference in the cost of bilona versus factory ghee.

Bilona ghee has a higher cost, because more milk is needed as a base for production than with factory ghee. The production process of Bilona ghee is much slower than factory ghee because it involves using manual methods to create the consistency of ghee. For example, it takes approximately 25-30 litres of milk to produce one litre of bilona ghee.

Factory ghee is less expensive to produce because production is carried out in mass. Most aspects of factory production are completed by machine, which reduces the labour involved in processing factory ghee. 

Although the cost of factory ghee may be less, many consumers believe bilona ghee is a better value because of its quality and health benefits.

7. The Importance of Ayurveda

Bilona Ghee in Ayurveda is known for its higher value than factory ghee (which is made using an industrial method of producing ghee). Traditional literature mentions the use of ghee that was made in the Bilona method since it provides benefits in...

Mental Performance

Backup immunity

Digestion

High levels of vitality

The use of Bilona ghee is also heavily incorporated into the ingredients of Ayurvedic medicine and detoxification protocols.

In addition to cooking with factory-made ghee (the most common use), most people do not receive the same level of health benefits when using factory-produced ghee compared to when they use Bilona method-made ghee.

Bilona Ghee vs. Factory Ghee - Which one is Better?

Your choice between Bilona vs. factory-produced ghee depends on your priorities.

If your priorities are to have:

Authentic preparation

Better Nutrition/Vitamin profile

Authentic Taste

Ayurvedic Benefits

Then you would want to select Bilona ghee.

If your priorities are to have:

More Affordable

Recommended for Everyday Cooking

Much easier to find

Retail price for consumers concerned about their health is often looking to buy their ghee from Traditional Bilona Ghee, not Factory Ghee, as there is a real difference in the purity and heritage.

How to Identify Authentic Bilona Ghee

If you're going to purchase Bilona ghee, here are some things to consider that will help you identify whether it's real:

A strong, natural aroma

Having a slightly grainy texture

Being golden yellow in colour

Being made from A2 cow's milk (for most manufacturers)

Additionally, see if the brand makes a clear statement about being “Bilona-style” or “cultured ghee.”

In Conclusion

The dispute over which type of ghee is superior — Bilona versus factory-produced — is really an issue of whether or not the older or newer ways of making food and cooking should be preferred.

Bilona ghee has a long history of being part of Indian cuisine and slow food culture; even though it's often more expensive than factory-produced ghee, many people feel that the nutritional value, flavour, and authenticity of Bilona are worth the added cost.

On the other hand, while village-style ghee may be easier and less expensive to use than home-style ghee produced by factories, it cannot come close to the quality of Bilona ghee produced in the same way. Therefore, if you want pure, healthy, and authentic ghee, Bilona is generally going to be your best option.