Short answer: not literally. Bone broth is made from bones, so a broth with no animal in it is a vegetable or mineral broth. But what people are really asking is whether a plant-based broth can give you the same warm, savory, nourishing mug. It can, if you make it the right way, and if you know what it does and doesn't have in common with the real thing.
Here is how "vegan bone broth" works, how it differs from bone broth and ordinary vegetable stock, and how to make or choose a good one.
What is vegan bone broth?
It is a name for a long-simmered plant-based broth, usually built from mushrooms, sea vegetables, roots and herbs, meant to fill the same role as bone broth: something savory and warming to sip. It has no bones, so it has none of the gelatin that makes bone broth set in the fridge, and no animal protein.
That is the honest difference. A vegan broth is not a swap for the protein or collagen in bone broth. It is a different food that does a similar job at the table.
Vegan bone broth vs. bone broth vs. vegetable stock
| Bone broth | Vegan "bone broth" | Everyday vegetable stock | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Made from | Bones, vegetables, herbs | Mushrooms, sea vegetables, roots, herbs | Onion, carrot, celery scraps |
| Simmer time | Many hours | An hour to many hours | 45 to 60 minutes |
| Gelatin | Yes, often gels | No | No |
| Flavor | Savory, rounded | Savory, earthy, umami | Light, sweet |
| Best for | Sipping, soups, grains | Sipping, soups, grains | Cooking base |
Simmer times are culinary conventions, not rules. For more on the broth family, see bone broth vs. stock vs. broth.
What makes a plant-based broth taste like more than vegetable water
The trick is umami, the savory depth that bones normally supply. Plants can get there with a few ingredients:
- Dried shiitake. The single biggest flavor lever.
- Kombu. A sea vegetable that adds savory minerals. Pull it out before a hard boil, or it can turn bitter.
- Roasted or caramelized vegetables. Carrots and celery that have browned taste fuller.
- Fresh ginger and herbs like thyme and parsley for lift.
- A splash of apple cider vinegar to brighten it.
- Enough salt. Without it, the broth tastes flat.
A simple vegan mineral broth to make at home
Makes about 2 quarts. Takes about 90 minutes, mostly unattended.
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 carrots, chopped
- 3 celery stalks, chopped
- 1 fennel bulb, sliced
- 1 thumb of ginger, sliced
- 6 dried shiitake mushrooms
- 1 piece of kombu, about 4 inches
- A handful of parsley stems and a few sprigs of thyme
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- 10 cups water, salt to taste
Warm the oil in a large pot and cook the carrots, celery and fennel over medium heat until they start to brown, about 10 minutes. Add the ginger, shiitake, kombu, herbs, vinegar and water. Bring to a gentle simmer, lift out the kombu after 15 minutes, and keep simmering for 60 minutes. Strain, salt to taste, and sip warm. It keeps 4 to 5 days in the fridge and freezes well.
No onion or garlic needed, which also makes it an easy base for anyone who cooks without them.
Is vegan bone broth as nutritious as bone broth?
Different, not equivalent. Bone broth brings some protein from the gelatin that simmers out of the bones; a vegetable broth brings very little protein. Minerals, though, are less of a gap than many people assume: a 2017 lab study found bone broth is not a major source of minerals like calcium either. If protein matters to you, pair a plant broth with beans, lentils, tofu or eggs. Neither type is a medicine; both are food.
Our vegan option
Our Organic Vegan Mineral Broth Elixir is built the same way as the rest of the line: slow-simmered with alkaline water, apple cider vinegar, shiitake, cordyceps, wood ear and kombu, plus ginger, turmeric, celery, carrots, Swiss chard, fennel, lavender and herbs. It is pressure-canned in a glass jar, so it keeps 6 months unopened and 7 to 10 days once opened. It is also the vegan broth in our fully vegan Reset. Not sure which broth is for you? Here is how our broths compare.
Vegan bone broth FAQs
Is vegan bone broth actually bone broth?
No. It is a plant-based broth made to play a similar role.
Does vegan broth have collagen?
No. Collagen is an animal protein, and plants do not contain it.
Can vegetarians drink bone broth?
Bone broth is made from animal bones, so most vegetarians avoid it. A mineral broth is the usual alternative.
Can I use vegan broth in recipes that call for bone broth?
Yes, one for one in soups, grains and congee. Expect less body and a lighter, earthier flavor.
Can I freeze it?
Homemade, yes, in freezer-safe containers with room to expand. Do not freeze glass jars.