Tallow was one of humanity’s earliest industrial materials. Archaeological evidence suggests its use dates back to prehistoric times when animal fats were essential resources for early humans.
Ancient Tallow Use
Ancient Egyptians used tallow in medicines, cosmetics, and religious ceremonies, while Romans employed it in soaps and cooking. In medieval Europe, tallow was used for candle-making. These “tallow candles” were the primary lighting source for common people, though they produced smoke and an unpleasant odour compared to more expensive beeswax candles used by the wealthy and in churches.
Traditional Use
Native American cultures used tallow—rendered fat from animals like buffalo, elk, or deer—in many practical and ceremonial ways. It was a key ingredient in pemmican, a high-energy food made with dried meat and berries, valued for its long shelf life. Tallow was also used to cook food, soften and waterproof hides, preserve leather goods, and as a skin and hair conditioner. It served as fuel for lamps and candles and was mixed with herbs for salves used in traditional medicine. Some tribes used it in rituals or as offerings. Knowledge of these practices comes from historical accounts by early European observers, oral traditions maintained by Indigenous communities, and archaeological evidence such as residue found in containers or on tools. It would be great to know more about this. I imagine the processes involved a lot of ingenuity.
In Jewish dietary laws (kashrut), beef tallow is considered kosher when properly prepared, while pork tallow is forbidden.
Islamic cultures have several traditional uses of tallow, particularly from halal sources (typically sheep, goat, or beef, but never pork).In traditional Islamic medicine and cosmetics, tallow has been used for various purposes.
Unani medicine (also called Yunani or Unani-tibb) is a comprehensive traditional healing system with a rich historical legacy spanning over 2,500 years. In Unani medicine (Tibb), which flourished in medieval Islamic societies, animal fats including tallow were incorporated into treatments for skin conditions, joint pain, and respiratory ailments. These preparations often combined tallow with herbs and other natural ingredients.
Tallow-based balms and creams have been used historically in regions like North Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Asia with significant Muslim populations. These were often made with sheep tallow (known as “shahm” in Arabic) and used to moisturise dry skin, especially in desert climates.
Traditional recipes for hair treatments in regions like Morocco and Turkey sometimes included tallow for its conditioning properties.
Tallow has been an important ingredient in traditional soap-making across the Islamic world. For example, Aleppo soap (from Syria) and Nabulsi soap (from Palestine) are famous traditional soaps, though they typically use olive oil as the primary feedstock, this is sometimes supplemented with animal fats.
Food Use
In many traditional cuisines across Muslim-majority regions, especially in Central Asia and parts of the Middle East, tallow (particularly sheep tail fat) is used for cooking and preserved for use during lean times. It’s important to note that the halal status of the tallow (derived from properly slaughtered animals) is crucial for these traditional applications in Islamic cultures.
Many traditional cuisines worldwide incorporate tallow as a cooking medium. In Britain the chips in fish and chips are traditionally fried in tallow, which in this context is generally known as beef dripping, lard or suet. It’s also popular in the UK as the basis of a form of bird feed called fat balls.
Mexican (cooking with lard and tallow), and various Eastern European culinary traditions also put it to good use.
So it is no exaggeration to say that most humans most of their history have had a special place in their culture.
The Industrial Revolution
During the Industrial Revolution, tallow’s importance grew dramatically. It became essential for lubricating machinery and manufacturing soap on an industrial scale. Tallow was also used in textile processing and leather production.
It became a global commodity, with countries like Australia and Argentina exporting significant quantities to Europe and North America for industrial uses. It continues to be used, and to find new uses, to this day.
Modern Tallow Use
Today, while petroleum-based products have replaced many traditional tallow applications, there’s renewed interest in tallow for sustainable and traditional products. Artisanal soap makers, farm-to-table restaurants, and cosmetic manufacturers are rediscovering tallow as a natural alternative to synthetic ingredients.
This revival reflects growing interest in traditional crafts, sustainability, and natural materials, giving tallow new cultural significance in contemporary society while honoring its historical importance.