🧈 Is Cultured Butter Good for You? Surprising Health Benefits

Cultured Butter: A Small Change with Big Benefits

Cultured butter is made by fermenting cream with live cultures — the same kind that make yogurt healthy. This process enhances both flavour and nutrition. Here’s why switching to cultured butter is a small change with big benefits.

If you’ve ever bitten into a Lowrey Butter Cookie and wondered, “Why does this taste so rich and creamy?” — the secret is cultured butter. It’s not just a buzzword; it’s a timeless dairy tradition that transforms ordinary butter into something extraordinary.

🧬 What Exactly Is Cultured Butter?

In simple terms, cultured butter is cream that’s been fermented with friendly bacteria before it’s churned. This fermentation step gives it a slightly tangy, complex flavour — almost like a mild cheese — and improves its digestibility.

Regular butter skips this step. It’s made by churning fresh cream straight into butterfat, which tastes sweet and mild but lacks the depth that cultured butter delivers.

In Europe, this cultured style has been the gold standard for centuries. And now, New Zealand’s grass-fed dairy industry has perfected it — producing butter that’s not only flavourful but naturally richer in nutrients and probiotics.

(Curious about how cultured butter compares to regular butter? You can read our full guide here.)

🌿 Natural Probiotics — Good for Your Gut

Let’s talk about probiotics, the beneficial bacteria that help balance your gut microbiome. When cream is fermented to make cultured butter, these friendly microbes flourish.

Even though not all survive the churning process, many beneficial compounds remain — including lactic acid and enzymes that support digestion.

That’s why some people who find regular butter heavy or hard to digest say cultured butter feels lighter. It helps your body break down fats more efficiently while adding a gentle tang that brightens baked goods, sauces, and spreads.

In other words, it’s butter with a built-in health bonus.

💛 Rich in Vitamins & Healthy Fats

Cultured butter made from grass-fed New Zealand cream is a natural source of:

• Vitamin A – for healthy skin and eyes.

• Vitamin K₂ – supports bone and heart health.

• Butyrate – a short-chain fatty acid linked to gut wellness.

• CLA (Conjugated Linoleic Acid) – known for its anti-inflammatory properties.

Because cows in New Zealand graze on lush pastures year-round, their milk contains higher omega-3 fatty acids and beta-carotene, giving cultured butter its signature golden hue.

So when you enjoy Lowrey’s butter cookies, you’re tasting not just butter — but a nutrient-rich, premium ingredient straight from nature.

🍪 Why Cultured Butter Makes Better Cookies

Here’s where science meets sweetness.

When you bake with cultured butter, something magical happens:

• The fermented milk solids caramelise more evenly, creating a deeper golden colour.

• The natural acidity tenderises gluten, giving cookies that crisp-yet-melt-in-your-mouth texture.

• The flavour becomes rounder and more complex, with subtle notes of cream and hazelnut.

That’s why every Lowrey Butter Cookie — from the Original to Matcha and Black Sesame — tastes richer and more balanced.

Cultured butter doesn’t just elevate taste; it enhances texture, aroma, and even how cookies age. They stay crisp longer without going greasy.

🇳🇿 Why New Zealand Cultured Butter Is a Class of Its Own

New Zealand’s reputation for world-class butter isn’t hype — it’s science and environment combined.

• 100% grass-fed cows mean higher nutrient content.

• Cool, clean climate keeps milk fresher.

• Strict dairy standards ensure consistent quality.

This is why Lowrey sources only cultured butter made locally. Each tin of cookies represents not just great baking — but a taste of New Zealand’s natural purity.

When international travellers pick up Lowrey tins at duty-free shops or gift them abroad, they’re gifting a true piece of Kiwi craftsmanship.

🥛 Is Cultured Butter Healthier Than Regular Butter?

Let’s compare them briefly:

While both types are good in moderation, cultured butter wins on digestibility, taste, and nutritional profile.

It’s a small swap that can make your everyday meals — and desserts — more wholesome.

🌼 Better for Baking, Better for You

Bakers love cultured butter for a reason. It behaves beautifully under heat. Its lower water content means flakier pastries, firmer shortbread, and golden cookies that don’t spread too thin.

For health-conscious eaters, it’s a simple way to upgrade your diet without giving up flavour. Replace your regular butter with cultured butter in:

• Morning toast

• Pancake batter

• Homemade sauces

• Cookie doughs

You’ll instantly notice the smoother texture and subtle tang.

💬 What Experts Say

Nutritionists and chefs agree: cultured butter combines taste satisfaction with digestive comfort.

• “It’s a naturally fermented food that fits beautifully into balanced diets,” notes NZ dairy nutrition expert Sarah Wills.

• “In baking, it adds depth that no artificial flavour can replicate.”

It’s one of those rare ingredients that are both indulgent and beneficial — proof that real food made the traditional way still wins.

💡 Fun Fact: Not All Butter Is Created Equal

Did you know that many commercial butters are churned in bulk from pasteurised cream without fermentation? This speeds up production but sacrifices flavour.

Cultured butter, on the other hand, takes time — typically 12–24 hours of fermentation before churning. That slow, careful process creates natural lactic tang and those golden undertones that make every bite special.

Lowrey chooses this route intentionally because time equals flavour — and flavour equals joy.

🎁 The Sweetest Way to Enjoy It

Of course, you can spread cultured butter on toast… but why stop there?

Taste it in its most luxurious form — handcrafted butter cookies made with 42% cultured butter. Every bite offers that perfect blend of creamy richness and crisp perfection.

Whether you’re gifting a tin, serving guests, or treating yourself after a long day, it’s indulgence you can feel good about.

🧭 Final Thoughts: Good for Taste, Great for You

Cultured butter is more than an ingredient — it’s a return to simplicity. Fermented, flavourful, and full of goodness, it bridges the gap between indulgence and wellness.

Next time you crave something buttery and delicious, reach for a product that celebrates real craftsmanship.

At Lowrey, every batch of cookies begins with one belief: better butter makes a better life — one golden bite at a time.

👉 Explore More

If you’d like to learn how cultured butter compares to regular butter in baking, check out our deep dive:
➡️ What Is Cultured Butter & Why It Makes Cookies Taste Better