Desi Ghee vs Banaspati Ghee: What Is the Difference?
By Khyber Organic · Updated 30 October 2026
Desi ghee is made from milk fat and banaspati ghee from hydrogenated vegetable oil. Learn how they differ and how to read a ghee label.
What desi ghee is
Desi ghee is clarified butter. Butter or cream from cow or buffalo milk is simmered until the water evaporates and the milk solids are removed, leaving pure milk fat.
What banaspati ghee is
Banaspati (also written vanaspati) ghee is made from vegetable oil that has been hydrogenated so it sets solid like ghee. It contains no milk fat unless the label says otherwise.
How they differ in practice
Source: desi ghee comes from milk, banaspati from vegetable oil.
Flavour and aroma: desi ghee has the warm, nutty aroma that many recipes depend on. Banaspati has a much plainer taste.
Price: desi ghee costs more because milk fat is more expensive than vegetable oil.
A note on ghee price news
When Pakistani news reports that ghee prices have gone up or down, it usually means banaspati ghee and cooking oil rates. Those figures do not describe the price of desi ghee.
How to choose
Read the ingredients. Desi ghee should list milk fat or butter, not vegetable oil. Check the origin and the pack size on the product page, and compare the price per kilogram between desi ghee products, not against banaspati.
Common questions
Is banaspati ghee the same as desi ghee?
No. Desi ghee is made from milk fat. Banaspati ghee is made from hydrogenated vegetable oil.
Why is desi ghee more expensive than banaspati ghee?
Desi ghee is made from milk fat, which costs more than the vegetable oil used for banaspati ghee.
Shop: Desi Ghee