A2 Cow Ghee vs Buffalo Ghee – Which One Should You Choose?

A2 Cow Ghee vs Buffalo Ghee – Which One Should You Choose?

Stuck Between Two Ghee Jars?

You’re standing in a supermarket aisle or browsing an online store, trying to pick the healthier ghee for your home.

You’ve heard of A2 Cow Ghee, and you’ve seen Buffalo Ghee too.

Both sound premium. Both promise health benefits. But what’s the difference? And more importantly — which one is right for you?

Let’s decode it the way your Nani might explain — simple, practical, and rooted in Indian tradition.

🐄 What is A2 Cow Ghee?

A2 Cow Ghee is made from the milk of Indian desi cows like Gir, Sahiwal, and Tharparkar.

What makes it special?
 The milk from these cows contains only the A2 beta-casein protein, which is easier to digest and less inflammatory compared to the A1 protein found in hybrid or Jersey cows.

But the real magic lies in how the ghee is made.

Authentic A2 ghee is made using the Bilona method:

  • Fresh desi cow milk is boiled
  • It’s turned into curd using a natural culture
  • The curd is hand-churned to extract butter
  • That butter is slow-cooked over a flame to get pure golden ghee

This method:

  • Retains nutrients
  • Enhances aroma and taste
  • Creates ghee that’s lighter, easier to digest, and packed with Ayurvedic value

🐃 What is Buffalo Ghee?

Buffalo Ghee is made from buffalo milk, most commonly from the Murrah breed.

Buffalo milk has:

  • More fat content (6-8%) compared to cow milk (3-4%)
  • A denser texture
  • Higher calories and protein

The ghee made from this milk is:

  • White or cream-colored
  • Thicker in consistency
  • Richer in flavor
  • Heavier on digestion

It’s widely used in:

  • Indian sweets (pinni, laddoos, halwa)
  • Tandoori cooking and heavy curries
  • Winters, where your body needs more warmth and calories

⚖️ A2 Ghee vs Buffalo Ghee: Key Differences

Feature

A2 Cow Ghee

Buffalo Ghee

Milk Source

Desi Indian cows (Gir, Sahiwal)

Murrah buffalo

Protein Type

A2 beta-casein only

A1 + A2 mix

Fat Content

3.5% – 4.5%

6.5% – 8%

Color

Golden yellow

White or creamy

Texture

Light, slightly grainy

Thick, dense

Taste

Nutty, mildly sweet

Rich, intense

Digestibility

Easy to digest

Heavy on the gut

Best Season

All seasons

Winters

Use Case

Daily use, kids, elderly

Festive sweets, high-cal meals

Ayurvedic Value

Tridosha balancing, sattvic

Kapha-heavy, cooling in nature

 

🌿 What Ayurveda Says

In Ayurveda, ghee is medicine — but the type matters.

  • A2 Cow Ghee is considered tridoshic, meaning it balances all three doshas (Vata, Pitta, and Kapha).

  • It builds Ojas (vitality), enhances Agni (digestive fire), and supports brain, skin, and reproductive health.

  • Buffalo Ghee, on the other hand, is:

    • Heavy, cooling, and Kapha-dominant

    • Ideal for Vata-predominant people in cold climates

    • Used traditionally in Panchkarma when nourishment is needed in deep tissues

So while both are used, daily use in Ayurveda usually favors Bilona A2 Cow Ghee for its lighter, sattvic properties.

🧘 Real-Life Usage: Who Should Use What?

Here’s a simple comparison of real-life situations:

Lifestyle/Need

Best Ghee

Regular home cooking (roti, dal, rice)

A2 Cow Ghee

Making festive sweets

Buffalo Ghee

Following an Ayurvedic or sattvic diet

A2 Cow Ghee

Feeling cold and sluggish during winter

Buffalo Ghee

Cooking for kids or elderly

A2 Cow Ghee

Doing Panchakarma or fasting

A2 Cow Ghee

Physical labor or high-calorie diet

Buffalo Ghee

 

⚠️ Health Considerations

Health Condition

Ghee Recommendation

Acidity, bloating, weak digestion

A2 Cow Ghee

Constipation or dry skin (Vata imbalance)

A2 Cow Ghee or small qty Buffalo

High cholesterol or heart concerns

Prefer A2 Cow Ghee (in moderation)

Weight gain goals

Buffalo Ghee (with active lifestyle)

Lactose intolerance

Both are safe (ghee has no lactose)

Note: Always choose Bilona-curd based ghee, not cream-based industrial ones.

🧪 Nutritional Value (per 100g)

Nutrient

A2 Cow Ghee

Buffalo Ghee

Calories

~890 kcal

~930 kcal

Fat

~99g

~100g

CLA (fat-burning acid)

Present

Less in commercial buffalo ghee

Butyric acid

High

Moderate

Lactose/Casein

Negligible

Negligible

 

🔍 So, Which One Should You Choose?

Let’s simplify:

Choose A2 Cow Ghee if you want:

  • Light, nourishing fat for daily use

  • A ghee safe for kids, elders, and gut health

  • A2 beta-casein protein that’s easier to digest

  • Traditional Ayurvedic benefits

  • Ghee made with curd, not cream

Choose Buffalo Ghee if you:

  • Are cooking rich sweets or tandoori meals

  • Need something denser during cold seasons

  • Are trying to gain weight or need high calories

  • Prefer a strong, bold flavor in dishes

✅ Final Verdict:

Both ghees have value.
 But if you’re looking for a daily health partner, a ghee that’s gentle, sattvic, and nutrient-dense, the winner is clear:

Bilona A2 Cow Ghee.

Hand-churned. Lab-tested. Digestive gold.

Try It Yourself — Taste the Difference

→ Order Nani’s A2 Bilona Ghee — lovingly slow-cooked, just like how your nani made it.

❓Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: Can I use both types of ghee in my kitchen?

A: Yes, many families do. Use A2 Cow Ghee for daily cooking and Buffalo Ghee occasionally for sweets or festive cooking.

Q2: Which ghee is better for children?

A: A2 Cow Ghee is safer, easier to digest, and more nourishing for growing bodies.

Q3: Does A2 Ghee have less fat than buffalo ghee?

A: Slightly. But more importantly, A2 ghee has better fat quality — rich in butyric acid and CLA, which are easier for the body to process.

Q4: Can ghee cause weight gain?

A: Only if overconsumed. In moderation, both A2 and Buffalo ghee support metabolism and hormone balance.

Q5: Why is A2 Bilona Ghee more expensive?

A: Because it takes 25–30 liters of desi cow milk to produce 1 liter of Bilona ghee. It’s made from curd, not cream, using a labor-intensive, small-batch process.

Back to blog