Let me start by saying this: I have nothing against bone broth. Lots of our customers love it, and I understand why. A warm, savoury cup on a cold morning feels like a hug.
But I grew up with a different broth. In our home, when anyone needed comfort, my grandmother Ma made a pot of thin, golden mung bean broth. We called it moong pani, "mung water." It's the broth I named my company after, and I want to share why I think it deserves a place in your cup too.
The short version
- Mung broth gives you the same cozy broth ritual, from a plant.
- Bone broth has collagen but no fibre. My broth has 2 g of fibre and 2–3 g of plant protein in every cup.
- You don't have to choose. Bone broth lovers stir Moong Pani into their bone broth for more flavour and fibre.
So what is mung broth?
It's simple: mung beans (also called moong or green gram) simmered with water and warming spices like turmeric, ginger and cumin until the beans go soft and the broth turns golden.
At Moong Pani we do it the way Ma did, just at a bigger scale. We soak the beans, sprout them, slow-cook them, season them, and then stone-grind the whole bean into a powder. You add hot water, stir and sip. Here's why I insist on sprouting every bean.
Bone broth and mung broth, side by side
| Bone broth | Moong Pani mung broth | |
|---|---|---|
| Made from | Animal bones and connective tissue | Whole sprouted mung beans, herbs and spices |
| Collagen | Yes | No (collagen only comes from animals) |
| Fibre | None | 2 g per cup |
| Protein | Usually more per cup | 2–3 g per cup; 9–11 g in our khichari and dal bowls |
| Plant goodness (polyphenols) | No | Yes, and sprouting adds more |
| Vegan | No | Yes, and gluten-free and dairy-free |
| Time to make | 12–24 hours of simmering | About a minute |
I'll be honest: bone broth usually has more protein per cup. When I want a protein-rich meal, I have my broth with a bowl of khichari or dal.
A word about collagen
Collagen is the big reason many people drink bone broth. I was curious, so I looked into it. When researchers tested bone broths, the collagen building blocks were much lower than what's used in collagen studies, and they varied a lot from batch to batch (Alcock et al., 2019).
Your body makes its own collagen from the protein you eat. What bone broth can't give you at all is fibre. And most of us are short on fibre, getting only about half of what we need (CDHF). That's where mung comes in.
Love bone broth? Make it even better
Here's my favourite thing customers have taught me. Many bone broth lovers keep a pouch of Moong Pani right beside their bone broth, and stir a spoonful of our Roasted Garlic, Turmeric Golden Broth into their mug.
- It tastes better. Roasted garlic and turmeric give plain bone broth real depth.
- It adds fibre. Bone broth has collagen but no fibre. Each spoonful of Moong Pani adds 2 g of fibre from whole sprouted mung.
- It adds plant goodness. A little extra plant protein and polyphenols from the bean Ayurveda calls the queen of pulses.
Try it: heat a cup of bone broth, stir in a spoonful of Moong Pani, wait a minute, stir again and sip.
Shop Roasted Garlic, Turmeric Golden Broth →
Whichever broth you reach for, I hope you enjoy every warm sip. And if you're curious about mung, I'd love for you to try a cup the way I grew up having it.
— Anu
Read more: What makes mung broth so good for you →
Try a cup
Six flavours, including Ginger, Lemon, Turmeric; Mild Lemon, Turmeric; and Roasted Garlic, Turmeric. One spoonful in hot water (or bone broth), stir and sip.
Questions I get asked
Is mung broth a good vegan swap for bone broth?
I think so. You get the same warm, savoury ritual, plus fibre and plant goodness bone broth doesn't have. Pair it with a khichari or dal bowl when you want more protein.
Does mung broth have collagen?
No. Collagen only comes from animals. Your body builds its own from the protein you eat.
Can I mix Moong Pani into bone broth?
Yes, and lots of people do. A spoonful adds flavour and 2 g of fibre. Roasted Garlic, Turmeric is the favourite, but any flavour works.
Does bone broth have fibre?
No. Fibre only comes from plants. Adding a plant broth like Moong Pani is an easy way to get some.
