Brothalovers Angelina Diamanti //top\\ Jun 2026

The term has emerged on social media platforms to describe individuals who identify a strong affective and symbolic attachment to broth‑based foods. Although food‑related subcultures have been examined extensively (e.g., coffee culture, craft‑beer communities), the Brothalovers phenomenon remains undocumented in the scholarly literature. This paper presents a mixed‑methods investigation of the Brothalovers subculture in the United Kingdom and the United States between 2019 and 2024. Using a three‑phase design (digital ethnography, an online survey of 1 284 participants, and in‑depth semi‑structured interviews with 34 self‑identified Brothalovers), we address three research questions: (1) What are the cultural meanings and practices that constitute Brothalover identity? ( (2) How do participants negotiate authenticity, health, and sustainability within the subculture? (3) What social networks and material infrastructures sustain the community? Findings reveal that Brothalover identity is articulated through ritualised broth‑making practices, a lexicon of “broth‑signifiers,” and a collective narrative of “comfort‑science.” Participants position broth as both a health‑optimising elixir and a conduit for emotional well‑being, while simultaneously engaging in debates over “authentic” stock versus “modern” functional‑broth products. The community is sustained by a hybrid network of micro‑influencers, specialty broth cafés, and algorithm‑mediated online forums. The paper contributes to the anthropology of food by foregrounding a nascent subculture that blurs the boundaries between nutrition, affect, and digital culture.

“Every morning I start with a : I simmer the bones for exactly 12 hours, then strain and add a pinch of sea‑salt. It’s my meditation.” (Interview #12, age 29, UK) brothalovers angelina diamanti

Angelina Diamanti, Ph.D. Department of Anthropology, University of New Cambridge Cambridge, CB2 1TN, United Kingdom Email: a.diamanti@unc.edu The term has emerged on social media platforms