The Fat They Didn’t Want You to Know

The Rise and Fall of Traditional Fats — and Why Tallow Is Returning

There was a time when tallow was everywhere. It lived quietly in kitchens, workshops, and cupboards — a reliable staple used for cooking, crafting, and everyday household rituals. It wasn’t marketed, branded, or positioned as special. It simply worked.

For generations, a jar of tallow was just part of life.

Then, slowly, it disappeared.

How Tallow Fell Out of Favour

As the 20th century progressed, industrial seed oils began to dominate the food and household landscape. Canola, sunflower, and vegetable oils arrived with bright packaging and bold messaging, promoted as modern, convenient alternatives to traditional fats.

At the same time, lifestyles shifted. Convenience replaced craft. Single-purpose products replaced multi-use staples. Cooking habits changed, skincare became increasingly commercialised, and making things at home was no longer the norm.

Tallow didn’t vanish overnight — it was gradually edged out. Once a trusted constant, it became framed as old-fashioned, unnecessary, or simply forgotten. It's quiet reliability was no match for loud marketing and modern promises.

Why Traditional Fats Are Returning

Today, tallow is finding its way back — not as a trend, but as a rediscovery.

People are revisiting traditional ingredients because they value simplicity, versatility, and intention. Tallow appeals not through claims or hype, but through use. It feels familiar, adaptable, and practical in a way many modern products do not.

• In the kitchen, firm tallow is once again being used for roasting, frying, and everyday cooking.

• In small-batch skincare, whipped tallow is appreciated for its texture and sensory quality.

• In creative spaces, it’s being explored in soaps, balms, and handmade projects.

This return isn’t about looking backward. It’s about choosing ingredients that fit naturally into daily life — without excess or complication.

Tradition, Adapted for Modern Life

What makes tallow relevant today is the same thing that made it valuable in the past.

• Versatility: One ingredient, many uses

• Stability: Easy to store, simple to work with

• Adaptable texture: Firm or whipped, depending on how it’s prepared

Tallow moves easily between old and new. It respects tradition while adapting to contemporary routines, offering a grounded alternative to disposable, single-use products.

A Small-Batch Approach

At The Tallow Pantry, working in small batches allows tallow to be shaped with intention. Each preparation highlights a different use, texture, or purpose — without overcomplication.

• Cooking tallow: Rendered simply and kept firm for culinary use

• Skincare tallow: Rendered multiple times and whipped for a softer finish

• Seasonal or limited batches: Created to explore texture, scent, and craft

This approach reflects how tallow has always been used — thoughtfully, practically, and with care.

The Fat They Didn’t Want You to Know?

Tallow didn’t disappear because it stopped being useful. It disappeared because it didn’t fit a new narrative — one built on convenience, speed, and constant novelty.

Now, as people look for fewer, better things, traditional fats are quietly returning. Tallow offers a sense of grounding — a reminder that ingredients don’t need reinvention to remain relevant.

Whether used in the kitchen, in small-batch skincare, or in creative projects, tallow continues to do what it has always done: adapt, endure, and serve everyday life.

Bringing It Full Circle

The story of tallow is one of rediscovery. A return to ingredients that value function over flash, versatility over excess, and tradition over trends.

It’s a reminder that some things don’t need improvement — only re-introduction.

Simple. Timeless. Still at home in modern life.

If you’d like to explore how tallow is prepared and refined with intention, From Suet to Jar offers a closer look at the process behind each batch. For a modern take on how traditional fats fit into contemporary routines, Old-School Fat, Modern Twist continues the conversation, while One Ingredient, Endless Uses explores how tallow adapts across everyday life