The nutritional value of bone broth is well documented, with heaps of collagen, protein, minerals and vitamins found inside the timeless whole food. However, it’s not just nutrition that matters when we’re talking about food.

If you’re yet to try it for yourself, you might be wondering about the flavour profile of bone broth and whether there are any variations if you’re not looking to sip it straight from the pot.

Or, if you’re already an avid bone broth user and are looking for ways to enhance your broth, scroll down to 'Boosting your broth'. 

Let’s take a look at what bone broth tastes like in its various forms, so you can decide which one is right for you. 

What is bone broth?

Bone broth, put simply, is a broth made by slowly simmering meaty animal bones for up to 24 hours. 

The slow cooking process extracts all the nutrients from the bones, including protein and amino acids, collagen, minerals and vitamins. In a natural wholefood form, these nutrients are easily absorbed and utilised by our bodies. 

There are different variations of bone broth, including beef, chicken and fish broths. Each variation offers a unique flavour and nutritional profile, which includes different types of collagen and minerals for instance.

The flavour profile of bone broth

Often compared to stock, bone broth has a richer umami flavour than the former due to its extended cooking duration. Bone broth is often used as the base for soups or stews due to its distinctive savoury taste, which can be built upon to create a wide range of flavour combinations. 

Depending on the type of bones used, for example chicken or fish, bone broth’s flavour profile can vary quite significantly. As you might expect, a beef bone broth will offer a deeper beef flavour to pair with meaty recipes, whilst fish broth is the perfect accompaniment to a seafood dish. 

Factors affecting the taste

There are a number of factors which play a role in the taste of bone broth, from the ingredients used to the cooking process.

Ingredients

As we’ve mentioned above, the origin of your bone broth, whether it be beef, chicken or fish, will have a significant impact on its flavour.

Bone broth is often made with vegetables and seasonings too, which again can play a part in how the final product tastes. Many bone broths use aromatics like onions, garlic and celery, which can greatly enhance the taste and aroma of your broth. 

Cooking process

Another way to alter the flavour profile of bone broth is to utilise different cooking processes. 

Simmering bone broth for an extended period of time, for example 24 hours, allows the broth to take on more of the source material’s rich flavour. A bone broth which is cooked for a shorter time will have a less intense flavour, as well as a lower nutritional value. 

The temperature matters here too. For maximum flavour and nutrition, bring to a boil and then lower to a very gentle simmer for the long haul. Too hot and you risk destroying the collagen within the bones, not hot enough and your broth will be weaker in both flavour and nutritional value. 

Sourcing

As with any recipe, the quality and sourcing of your ingredients will have a big impact on the flavour of your bone broth.

For example, Freja bone broth is made with antibiotic and hormone-free grass-fed beef, free range chicken and sustainably sourced white fish. Utilising high quality bones not only offers a better taste but even more nutrients, too. 

Boosting your broth

Once it’s all finished, there are still even more ways to alter the flavour profile of bone broth.

As bone broth is a fantastic base for many recipes, you can easily add just one or two simple ingredients to heighten or alter the taste of your broth. Try beef bone broth with sriracha and toasted sesame seeds for a spicy, savoury hit, or chicken bone broth with coconut milk and coriander for an instant, creamy soup dish.

Experiment with different ingredients and flavour combinations to keep the flavour of your bone broth varied and fresh all year round. 

Other ways to enjoy bone broth

Looking away from classic bone broth in its original form, there are even more ways to enjoy the benefits of bone broth, especially if you have a sweet tooth.

Bone broth powder

As bone broth in a versatile, dehydrated powder form, our Bone Broth Nutrition is designed to be added to recipes, both savoury and sweet, to easily boost the nutrition in your meals.

From iced coffees and smoothies to pastas and stews, our Bone Broth Nutrition has a mild, neutral flavour to let your other ingredients shine. 

Bone Broth Shakes

If the savoury flavour profile of bone broth isn’t quite what you’re looking for, or you just want another way to enjoy its nutritional benefits, the Bone Broth Shake could be the answer.

A subtly sweet collagen and protein blend, Bone Broth Shakes have no artificial ingredients whatsoever, so you can satisfy your sweet tooth and your nutritional needs at the same time. 

Available in Raw Cacao, Wild Strawberry and Vanilla Bean flavours, with an Unflavoured powder also available, you won’t taste the bone broth in this form. 

Conclusion

At its core, bone broth is a savoury, rich broth which is delicious to drink as it is or to enjoy as part of a recipe.

Whilst the overall flavour of bone broth is relatively established, the ingredients you use, the way you cook it and what you do with it afterwards all play a big role in its final taste. 

Looking for versatility without the flavour of bone broth? Try Bone Broth Nutrition powder.