10 Signs of Authentic Bilona Ghee (How to Spot Fake Bilona Ghee)

With so many fakes and shortcuts in the ghee market, it’s become essential to know how to identify real bilona ghee. Real bilona ghee is priced rightfully high, as real bilona ghee uses the traditional method of wooden churns with hundreds of years of experience. But how do you know if what you’re getting is the real deal?

In this article, we will highlight 10 signs of real bilona ghee, plus easy tests you can do at home to evaluate quality. Whether you’re looking to buy ghee for the first time or are at the point of choosing a new brand, we will provide resources to help you make informed purchasing decisions.

Quick Checklist – 10 Things to Look For

1. Made from Curd (Not Cream)

True bilona ghee is prepared from fermented curd, not fresh cream, creating distinctively tangy undertones.

2. Wooden Churn Smell/Notes

You will smell the subtle woody, earthy notes that only come from wooden churning vessels.

3. Grainy Texture at Room Temperature

Genuine bilona ghee will feel naturally coarse and slightly granular when solid, and will never feel completely smooth.

4. Golden Aroma on Heating

When heated, authentic bilona ghee will produce a rich, nutty aroma with caramelized notes.

5. Melting Point

Authentic Bilona ghee melts quickly at body temperature (around 35–37°C) and spreads evenly. If it doesn’t melt easily, or feels sticky/oily, it may contain hydrogenated oils or adulterants.

6. Natural Color Variation

Slightly different colors are natural between batches is normal. Artificially uniform color is suspicious.

7. Seasonal Consistency Changes

Texture varies with temperature and season – harder in winter, softer in summer.

8. No Artificial Preservatives

Pure bilona ghee contains only milk fat – check labels for added chemicals or preservatives.

9. Small-Batch Production Details

Pure bilona ghee contains only milk fat – check labels for added chemicals or preservatives.

10. High Price Point

Quality bilona ghee costs more due to labor-intensive traditional methods – extremely cheap options are red flags.

Don’t risk buying fake ghee. Download our Complete Bilona Ghee Buyer’s Guide PDF with easy home tests and expert tips.

Sensory Tests You Can Do at Home

These basic tests require no fancy equipment and can take only minutes to set up.

Smell & Aroma Test

The nose knows when it comes to authentic bilona ghee. Here’s what to look for:

Cold Smell Test:

Remove the lid and take a deep breath. Authentic bilona ghee has broad aroma characteristics – you should smell:

• Subtle fermented characteristics (from the curd base)
• Woody notes from traditional churning
• Rich, creamy dairy scents
• Absent of artificial or chemically-smelling notes

Heated Aroma Test:

Now warm a small amount of ghee in a pan over low heat. Authentic bilona ghee will develop:

• Nutty, caramel aromas
• Sweetened, toasted notes
• No rancid or burnt notes
• Aromatic intensity that builds gradually

Fake ghee often smells flat, overly sweet, or has chemical undertones that become obvious when heated.

Texture & Grain Test (Cold Room)

Real bilona ghee has a distinct texture that separates it from machine-made ghee.

Room Temperature Test:

• Real bilona ghee feels slightly grainy between your fingers
• It has a natural coarseness that never completely smooths out
• The texture varies slightly throughout the container
• It should not feel waxy or artificially smooth

Refrigerator Test:

• When cool, real bilona ghee is firm, but not solid
• When scraped, the real bilona ghee flakes off into small, uneven stripes
• There will be natural separations on the surface, or slight color differences from top to bottom
• It softens gradually when brought to room temperature

Flame Test (How to Perform Safely)

This traditional test reveals ghee purity through its burning characteristics.

Safety First:

• Only a small amount of ghee should be used (approximately 1/4 teaspoon)
• Work near a sink with water ready
• Ensure good ventilation
• Keep a lid nearby to smother flames

The Test:

• Place a small amount of ghee in a metal spoon
• Hold over a gas flame or candle
• Observe the flame color and behavior

Authentic Bilona Ghee Results:

• Will burn very bright and steady
• Flame colour is golden-yellow
• Will create minimal smoke
• Will burn cleanly with no residue
• Will make no crackling or spluttering sounds

Fake Ghee Warning Signs:

• The flame flickers or changes colour
• Creates excessive smoke or creates strange odours
• Creates crackling sounds (too much water)
• Leaves black residue on the pan.

Lab & Certificate Checks

Lab testing remains the best verification of ghee authenticity. Here’s what to pay attention to:

Essential Lab Tests:

• Fatty Acid Profile: Authentic bilona ghee shows specific ratios of saturated and unsaturated fats.
• Water Content: Ideally less than 0.5% for quality ghee.
• Free Fatty Acid Content: The lower the percentage, the fresher, higher quality ghee you generally have.
• Peroxide Value: Shows oxidation-lower is better.

Certificates to Request:

• FSSAI certification for food safety
• Third-party lab reports for purity
• Organic certification (if claimed)

Red Flag: Sellers who refuse to provide or “don’t have” current lab reports.

Packaging & Label Red Flags

Smart packaging scrutiny can save you from fake products before you even open the container.

Warning Signs to Avoid:

• Missing or unclear batch numbers
• No manufacturing date or “best by” information
• Vague location details (“Made in India” without specific address)
• Claims without supporting certifications
• Prices significantly below market averages
• Generic packaging without brand contact information
• Missing nutritional information or ingredient lists

Quality Indicators:

• Clear batch traceability
• Specific farm or production facility location
• Contact information including phone numbers
• Professional lab test certificates
• Detailed ingredient sourcing information
• Proper storage and handling instructions

When Unsure – Ask Seller These Questions

A reputable bilona ghee producer will happily answer these questions:

What’s your exact bilona process?

“They should explain wooden churning and curd fermentation”

Can you share current lab reports?

“Quality ghee producers have recent test results”

What cow breeds do you use?

“Specific breed information shows authenticity”

How long is your fermentation process?

“Traditional methods take 8-12 hours minimum”

Can I visit your production facility?

“Legitimate producers welcome transparency”

What’s your daily production capacity?

“Small batches indicate traditional methods”

Do you offer samples?

“Confident sellers provide tasting opportunities”

What’s your return policy?

“Quality assurance shows product confidence”

Red Flags: Vague answers, reluctance to share information, or inability to provide specific details about their process.

What We uses

At Bilona Ghee, we maintain authenticity through high standards:

• A2 Cattle Sourcing: Exclusively from indigenous breeds like Gir and Sahiwal cows and Murrah Buffaloes
• Small-Batch Production: Small batches are prepared to ensure quality control
• Traditional Wooden Churns: Hand-carved equipment passed down through generations
• Curd Fermentation: Minimum 8-hour curd culture development
• Third-Party Testing: Every batch undergoes independent lab verification
• Transparent Traceability: Each jar includes batch date, and cow details

We believe you should know exactly what you’re buying. That’s why we provide complete transparency about our methods, sources, and testing.

Ready to experience authentic bilona ghee? Order your Authentic Bilona Ghee and taste the difference traditional methods make.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

How much should authentic bilona ghee cost?

Quality bilona ghee costs 2-3 times more than standard ghee because of the manual labor involved in traditional methods.

Can I test ghee authenticity without heating?

Yes! The texture, aroma, and visual tests can all take place at room temperature. However, using heat provides the most conclusive results.

Is all A2 ghee automatically bilona ghee?

No, A2 refers to the breed of the cow, while bilona describes the production method. You can have A2 ghee made using modern methods.

Ready to try authentic bilona ghee?

Start with our 30g sample pack – perfect for testing these authenticity signs yourself.