为什么中国传统的骨头汤能在北美流行起来？

今天想和大家聊聊中国传统食品骨头汤。几年前，我在主持女性创业讲座时，就曾分享过骨头汤如何从中国传统饮食文化中走向北美饮料市场的新宠。比如Brodo，就是一个在纽约非常流行的骨头汤品牌。很多人早上或下午会像喝咖啡一样，手里拿一杯热腾腾的Brodo，一边走一边喝。

Brodo通常装在纸杯或外带杯里，可以直接饮用，不需要配饭或配菜。相比咖啡，骨头汤的口感更温润，带有微咸的味道，而且主打健康、养生、高蛋白、低热量，成为一种更温和、不刺激肠胃的提神选择。

后来因为忙碌，我没有继续深入关注这个话题。但最近在阅读了《福布斯》一篇关于Kettle & Fire两位创始人的故事后，我又重新拾起了对骨头汤在北美流行现象的兴趣。

那么什么是Kettle & Fire这个品牌呢？

Kettle & Fire的诞生源于一次意外。2015年，19岁的Nick Mares在踢足球时严重受伤，撕裂了膝盖的两条韧带。为了帮助弟弟更好康复，哥哥Justin Mares开始研究促进身体修复的营养方式，很快，他注意到了骨头汤这种古老食疗食品的价值。骨头汤富含胶原蛋白、氨基酸、矿物质，被认为对关节修复和肠道健康有显著帮助。

然而，当时的北美市场几乎找不到真正高质量的骨头汤产品。很多所谓的“骨头汤”要么添加了大量人工成分，要么干脆是用粉末速溶制成，无法满足他们对健康与纯净营养的追求。于是，兄弟俩决定自己动手，创立了Kettle & Fire。他们坚持使用草饲草养动物的骨头，采用14到20小时的慢炖工艺，不添加种子油、人工香料，并通过除草剂残留检测，从源头把控品质。

那时也恰逢Paleo（古饮食）、Keto（生酮饮食）等健康潮流在北美迅速兴起，人们重新开始关注天然食材和传统慢食文化。Kettle & Fire凭借着对质量的坚持和对健康理念的契合，很快赢得了一批忠实用户，并成功进入Whole Foods、Walmart、Target等主流超市渠道，成为骨头汤品类的代表品牌。

那么为什么骨头汤能在北美流行起来？

骨头汤的流行，背后反映了北美饮食文化的几个重要变化。首先是健康饮食趋势的兴起。现代消费者，尤其是注重健康的一群人，越来越关注天然、营养密集的食品。骨头汤富含胶原蛋白、氨基酸、矿物质，这些成分与修复肠道健康、提高免疫力、延缓衰老等需求高度吻合。而且骨头汤采用传统慢炖的制作方式，被认为比现代加工速食更能保留天然营养，符合“回归自然”的饮食理念。

其次，像Kettle & Fire这样的品牌，凭借极高的品质标准，赢得了挑剔消费者的信任。他们坚持草饲、草养、无添加，甚至对微小成分都极为苛刻。这种细致入微的坚持，特别受到纽约、加州等注重身心健康地区消费者的欢迎。

与此同时，骨头汤还唤起了人们对“真食物”的怀旧情感。相比现代工业化生产、快速烹制的食品，骨头汤强调真实食材、传统慢炖、滋补修复，唤起了人们对过去食物更天然、更健康的记忆。也正是这种情感共鸣，让骨头汤从小众健康品逐步成为许多人日常生活的一部分。

最后，不得不提的是渠道的扩展。Kettle & Fire通过电商起步，随后进入主流超市，实现了从小众健康圈层向大众市场的渗透。而且其高复购率也证明，骨头汤并非一时流行，而是真正融入了消费者的生活方式。

当然骨头汤之所以能在北美成功，除了符合健康饮食趋势外，还有更深层次的文化原因。

从传统上看，骨头汤本就是中西方共有的饮食智慧。在东方，尤其是中国，中医强调“以形补形”，骨头汤被视为滋补强身、修复元气的重要食疗食品；而在西方，尤其是欧洲传统农业社会，骨头汤则是家家户户节俭又养生的料理，用动物所有部位，慢慢炖煮，提取最深的营养。无论东方还是西方，骨头汤都承载着“用时间提取食物灵魂”的朴素智慧。

在饮食理念上，骨头汤也完成了中西方的融合。东方讲究滋养调理，讲究慢慢积累能量；而西方现代营养学则关注蛋白质、胶原蛋白、矿物质等功能成分的精准摄取。骨头汤完美融合了这两种思维模式——既滋养，又科学。

消费文化的演变也值得一提。在东方，喝骨头汤是家常便饭，是对家人关爱的象征；而在当下北美，骨头汤成为了一种有意识的健康选择，一种对身体和生活质量负责的生活方式。这其中，既有东方“养生”的影子，也有西方“个体主义”的现代表达。

更重要的是，骨头汤的崛起也契合了当今全球对可持续发展和环保价值观的重视。Kettle & Fire等品牌强调草饲、再生农业、生态养殖，这与东方文化中讲究“顺应自然”的思想遥相呼应，只是用更现代、商业化的方式重新诠释了出来。

因此，骨头汤的流行，不仅是一场饮食潮流的回归，更是一种深层次的文化融合。它连接了中西方关于健康、自然与食物的共同记忆，也在新的时代背景下，以更科学、更可持续的方式焕发出新的生命力。

一碗骨头汤，温暖了胃，也连接了世界。

How the Traditional Chinese Bone Broth Found a New Home in North America

Today, I’d like to talk about bone broth, a traditional Chinese soup that has quietly and gradually become a trendy health beverage in North America.

Several years ago, when I was hosting women’s entrepreneurship seminars, I shared how bone broth, deeply rooted in Chinese dietary traditions, was making its way into the North American beverage market. One popular example is Brodo, a brand that became quite trendy in New York. Many people would grab a steaming cup of Brodo in the morning or afternoon, carrying it in hand just like coffee as they walked down the streets.

Brodo is typically served in a paper cup or takeaway container, designed for direct drinking without the need for rice or side dishes. Compared to coffee, bone broth is much gentler in flavor, slightly savory, and positioned as a healthy, nourishing, high-protein, low-calorie option, a stomach-friendly and comforting alternative to the typical jolt of caffeine.

I had not done any further research until recently, when I read a Forbes article about the founders of Kettle & Fire, and my interest in the rise of bone broth in North America was sparked again.

So, what exactly is Kettle & Fire?

The story of Kettle & Fire begins with an accident. In 2015, Nick Mares, then only 19 years old, suffered a serious injury while playing soccer, tearing two ligaments in his knee. To support his brother’s recovery, Justin Mares began researching nutritional strategies to aid healing. It wasn’t long before he realized the value of bone broth, an ancient healing food rich in collagen, amino acids, and minerals, known for promoting joint recovery and gut health.

At that time, however, there were hardly any truly high-quality bone broth products available in North America. Many so-called "bone broths" were either filled with artificial ingredients or made from instant powders, failing to meet the brothers’ pursuit of pure, nourishing foods. Thus, they decided to create their own brand: Kettle & Fire. They insisted on using only grass-fed, pasture-raised animal bones, employing a slow-simmering process lasting 14 to 20 hours, eliminating seed oils and artificial flavorings, and even going so far as to ensure their products were free from herbicide residues.

At the time, their efforts coincided with the booming popularity of the Paleo and Keto diets in North America, where consumers were beginning to rediscover the value of natural ingredients and traditional slow-cooked foods. Thanks to their strict commitment to quality and alignment with the wellness movement, Kettle & Fire quickly gained a loyal following and successfully entered major retail chains such as Whole Foods, Walmart, and Target, becoming a flagship brand in the bone broth category.

So why has bone broth become so popular in North America?

The rise of bone broth reflects several important changes in North American food culture. First, the growing trend of health-conscious eating. Modern consumers, particularly those focused on wellness, are increasingly seeking natural, nutrient-dense foods. Bone broth, rich in collagen, amino acids, and minerals, perfectly matches needs like gut health improvement, immune system support, and anti-aging. Moreover, the traditional slow-simmering method is seen as a better way to preserve natural nutrients, aligning with the "return to nature" food philosophy.

Second, brands like Kettle & Fire have earned the trust of even the most discerning consumers by maintaining extremely high quality standards. They insist on grass-fed, pasture-raised sourcing, with no additives whatsoever, and are meticulous about even the smallest ingredients. This dedication has been especially well-received in health-conscious areas such as New York and California.

Bone broth has also evoked a deep sense of nostalgia for “real food.” Compared to the heavily industrialized, fast-cooked products prevalent today, bone broth emphasizes real ingredients, traditional slow-cooking methods, and true nourishment. This connection to authentic, wholesome food memories has helped bone broth grow from a niche health trend into a daily staple for many.

Of course, the expansion of distribution channels also played a key role. Starting with online sales, Kettle & Fire soon expanded into mainstream supermarkets (i.e. Whole Foods), successfully moving from niche health circles into the broader consumer market. Their high repeat purchase rate proves that bone broth is not just a passing trend but has truly become integrated into everyday lifestyles.

Beyond these surface-level reasons, there are even deeper cultural factors behind bone broth’s success in North America.

Traditionally, bone broth has been revered both in Eastern and Western food cultures. In the East, particularly in Chinese medicine, bone broth is seen as a key therapeutic food that strengthens the body and restores energy, following the philosophy of "nourishing like with like." In the West, especially in traditional European agricultural societies, bone broth was a thrifty yet highly nutritious household staple, extracting deep nourishment from every part of the animal. Whether East or West, bone broth embodies the simple wisdom of "extracting the soul of food through time."

From a nutritional perspective, bone broth represents a fusion of Eastern and Western thinking: the Eastern emphasis on gentle, gradual nourishment, and the Western focus on the precise intake of functional nutrients like proteins, collagen, and minerals. It bridges two worlds, offering both healing and science.

From a cultural perspective, bone broth drinking habits have also evolved. In the East, a bowl of bone broth represents everyday home-cooked care, a symbol of love and protection. In contemporary North America, it has become a conscious health choice, a form of self-care and responsibility for one’s own well-being. In this evolution, we see the influence of both Eastern “nourishment culture” and Western “individualism.”

Moreover, the rise of bone broth perfectly fits the emphasis on sustainability and environmental responsibility. Brands like Kettle & Fire emphasize grass-fed farming, regenerative agriculture, and eco-friendly sourcing practices. In a way, this mirrors the Eastern value of “living in harmony with nature,” but reinterpreted through a modern, commercial lens.

Thus, the rise of bone broth is not just a return to a traditional food but a deeper cultural fusion. It connects East and West through shared memories of health, nature, and food and reinvents those traditions for a new era in a more scientific and sustainable form.

A simple bowl of bone broth warms the stomach and brings the world together!