What Is Tallow?
What if something our great-grandparents used every day could still have a place in our homes today?
Long before modern products filled our cupboards, there was a simple ingredient with a surprising number of uses. It belonged in the kitchen, had a place in traditional skincare, and was valued for its versatility.
Today, that ingredient is finding its way back into the spotlight.
It's called tallow — and its story is more interesting than you might think.
So, what exactly is it, how is it made, and why are people rediscovering it?
Let's take a closer look.
FIRST THINGS FIRST… WHAT IS TALLOW?
It's simpler than you might think.
Tallow is a traditional fat made by gently melting and rendering beef fat, often the firm fat found around the kidneys, known as suet. Through a careful process, the fat is melted and purified to create a versatile ingredient that can be used in different ways.
No complicated name. No mysterious ingredient.
Just an age-old process that transforms something simple into something useful.
And here's where it gets interesting: tallow's story doesn't end in the kitchen.
WHY DID OUR GRANDPARENTS VALUE IT SO MUCH?
Before there was a product for everything, people often made the most of what they had. Ingredients needed to be practical, useful and versatile.
Tallow was one of those traditional ingredients.
In the kitchen, it has long been valued as a cooking fat for frying, roasting and adding richness to meals. It can help create beautifully golden potatoes, crispy chips and a delicious crust when cooking steak.
In traditional skincare, tallow has also been used in balms and creams because its rich fats help soften the skin and reduce moisture loss.
One ingredient, two very different uses — and a history that stretches across generations.
Perhaps that is part of what makes it so fascinating.
BUT WHAT MAKES TALLOW DIFFERENT?
A LITTLE LOOK INSIDE THE INGREDIENT
Tallow is made up primarily of fats, including saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids. It is also a source of energy when used as food.
Depending on the source and preparation, it may contain small amounts of fat-soluble vitamins, but the amounts can vary considerably.
When used in skincare, its rich texture helps soften the skin and support its natural moisture barrier.
It isn't magic, and it isn't a miracle ingredient. It's simply a traditional fat with practical uses in both the kitchen and skincare.
And sometimes, understanding the simple things is what makes them special.
FROM THE KITCHEN TO YOUR SKIN
TWO WAYS TO REDISCOVER A TRADITION
IN THE KITCHEN
Tallow is back on the menu for those who appreciate traditional cooking fats. Use it to roast vegetables, fry potatoes, cook steak or bring a little extra richness to homemade meals.
Its relatively high smoke point makes it useful for many high-heat cooking methods, although it should never be heated until it smokes.
IN YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE
Tallow is also used in moisturising creams, balms and body butters. Its rich, emollient qualities make it an appealing ingredient for those who prefer simple, oil-based skincare.
As with any skincare ingredient, everyone's skin is different, so it is wise to patch-test a new product before regular use.
Two different ways to use a traditional ingredient — each with its own place in a modern home.
A TRADITION, REIMAGINED FOR TODAY
We don't have to live exactly as our grandparents did to appreciate what they knew.
Sometimes, it simply means slowing down, looking at familiar ingredients differently and remembering that useful things don't always need to be complicated.
At VetSpens, we bring this appreciation into the products we make — from our carefully prepared cooking tallow to our handmade tallow skincare.
We believe in keeping things simple, choosing our ingredients with care and making products with purpose.
Not because everything old is automatically better, but because some traditions are worth understanding and rediscovering.
CURIOUS ABOUT TALLOW? NOW YOU KNOW A LITTLE MORE.
What began as a traditional household ingredient has found a new place in modern kitchens and skincare routines.
And perhaps that is the beauty of tallow: it's a reminder that sometimes, the simplest ingredients have the longest stories.
From our spens to your home, with love.
VETSPENS
Suiwer uit die natuur. Handgemaak met liefde.