What Is A2 Ghee? A2 Milk, Desi Cows and the Bilona Method Explained

By Thaaro Foods · 8 October 2026

You see "A2" on many jars of ghee. Here is what the term actually means, where it comes from, and what to look for when you buy A2 ghee.

"A2" has become one of the most common words on a jar of ghee in India. It is a real term with a specific meaning, and it is worth knowing what it does and does not tell you.

Where the name comes from

Milk contains several proteins called caseins. One of them, beta-casein, comes in different forms; the two best known are called A1 and A2. Which form a cow's milk carries depends on the cow's genes, and so on its breed.

Native Indian (desi) breeds such as Gir, Sahiwal, Tharparkar and Rathi are known to carry mainly the A2 form. Many crossbred and exotic breeds carry both. "A2 milk" is milk from cows that carry the A2 form, and "A2 ghee" is ghee made from such milk.

Ghee is mostly fat

Ghee is the fat of milk with the water and most of the milk solids cooked away, so it contains very little protein of any kind. In practice, "A2 ghee" tells you about the cows the milk came from: desi cows rather than crossbred or exotic ones. That is why the breed and the way the ghee is made matter as much as the label.

How A2 bilona ghee is made

Milk from desi cows is boiled and cooled.
It is set as curd overnight.
The curd is churned with a wooden bilona until the butter (makkhan) separates from the buttermilk.
The butter is cooked slowly over a low flame until it turns into clear, fragrant ghee.

This is how Thaaro makes its A2 cow ghee. See every step of the process.

What to check before you buy

The milk: the label should say cow ghee, and ideally the breed or "desi cow".
The method: bilona (curd-churned) ghee is made differently from ghee made from cream.
The maker: name, address and FSSAI licence number on the label.
The batch: a batch number lets the maker trace your jar. Thaaro publishes lab reports by batch.

A2 cow ghee or buffalo ghee?

"A2" is used for cow ghee. Buffalo ghee is a different ingredient with its own colour, taste and uses; see cow ghee vs buffalo ghee.

Questions

What does A2 mean on a ghee jar?

It refers to milk from cows that carry the A2 form of the beta-casein protein, which native Indian breeds such as Gir and Sahiwal are known to carry mainly.

Is all desi cow ghee A2 ghee?

The term is used for ghee from native Indian breeds known to carry mainly A2 beta-casein. Check the label for the milk and the maker.

Is there A2 buffalo ghee?

The A2 label is used for cow ghee. Buffalo ghee is described by the milk it is made from.