My tallow rendering process

From Kitchen to Cure: How I Render My Tallow

There’s something incredibly grounding about working with tallow — the rich, golden fat rendered slowly from grass-fed suet, transformed into something so deeply nourishing for the skin. It’s a process I’ve come to love, not just for the end result, but for the ritual of it.

I start with carefully sourced, local, grass-fed beef suet — the cleanest, most nutrient-dense fat found around the kidneys. After trimming and dicing it by hand (a meditative step in itself), I render it low and slow on the stovetop. No shortcuts, no high heat — just patience, and the occasional stir.

As the suet melts down, it releases its pure, clean oil, which I strain multiple times to remove any impurities. What’s left is a smooth, creamy tallow with a mild, almost sweet scent — the perfect base for my balms and body butters.

I love that this process is simple, traditional, and waste-free. Tallow is incredibly rich in skin-loving nutrients like vitamins A, D, E, and K, and it mimics our skin’s natural oils in a way plant oils just can’t. It’s especially gentle for sensitive skin, babies, and anyone looking for truly simple skincare.

Rendering tallow feels like reclaiming an old, beautiful practice — one that honours the whole animal, respects the land, and nourishes the skin in the most elemental way. Every balm I make begins here, in this quiet process, with care and intention.

— Vinka, Founder of Bathers Balm