We get asked a lot about what to look for when shopping for bone broth. So we decided to summarise those answers in a blog article that everyone can refer to.
Cost: Too cheap... Or too expensive? Proper bone broth is not quick or easy to make. As an initial guide, if it's cheap, it's probably not the real thing. A quality bone broth should cost in the region of £12-£18 per litre when made as per instructions.
Additives: Bone broth protein, bone broth collagen, MSG Check the ingredients list for ‘Bone broth protein’ or ‘bone broth collagen’ as a listed ingredient. If these are listed, it suggests the broth is not genuine bone broth but a weak stock fortified with mass-produced collagen protein. Also check for anything difficult to pronounce — most of those additives are flavour enhancers like MSG or preservatives.
What bones have been used: Grass-fed, organic, pastured? Look for what bones were used and from which animals. We recommend a mix of beef and chicken bones. How the animals were raised is also really important. Factory farmed collagen can host nasties like pesticides and heavy metals. See our blog on why organic grass-fed bones matter for more details.
Collagen Content Check that the collagen content per serving is at least 3g and preferably above 5g. Cost per 5g serving of collagen protein should be no more than £3.
Broth consistency: Does it gel? A quality made broth should always gel when you put it in the fridge. Gelatin makes the broth gel, and gelatin definitely contains collagen peptides. A broth that does gel is guaranteed to have collagen peptides.
Make sure it's fresh The minute you open your packet of broth, bacteria will get inside and begin to colonise it. Oxidisation also happens, which damages the nutritional quality. This is the main reason we freeze-dry our broth — it maintains nutrition without worrying about it going off.
Taste Finally, taste is very important. Good broth tastes good — rich, silky on the tongue due to the gelatin, and strong in the umami taste. Avoid broths with added sugar.
