HOW WE MAKE OUR TALLOW
Hand rendered. Triple filtered. Cured with care.
This is the process that sets Nefertem apart.
We have worked with tallow for more than 15 years and continue to follow the same slow, traditional methods that protect its natural nutrients and purity.
This page walks you through how we turn raw suet into the clean, firm, grass fed tallow used in every Nefertem product.
WHERE IT BEGINS
Every batch starts with suet from three Midwest family farms that raise grass fed, grass finished cattle without hormones, steroids, or antibiotics.
Suet is the nutrient dense fat that surrounds the kidneys.
It produces the cleanest, purest tallow and contains the vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids that make tallow so good for the skin.
STEP 1. PREPARING THE SUET
We begin by trimming and chopping the suet into small pieces so it melts evenly.
This step is done by hand to make sure only clean fat goes into the pot.
Chopped suet is placed into our 100 quart stainless steel pots with a bucket of water.
The water helps prevent scorching and keeps the heat gentle.
STEP 2. SLOW RENDERING
Rendering is the process of melting the suet on a very low, steady heat.
This takes many hours. We never rush it, because high heat can damage the beneficial nutrients inside the fat.
Slow rendering protects the vitamins and creates a cleaner, milder tallow.
When the suet has melted into a golden, clear liquid, the remaining bits sink down to the bottom of the pot with the water.
STEP 3. FILTER & FREEZE
Once the liquid fat is ready, we carefully pour it through layers of natural cloth to remove the impurities.
This first filtration separates the liquid tallow from any impurities.
What flows through is clean, golden fat.
We then let it cool to solidify and freeze it, creating one firm block of tallow.
STEP 4. REPEAT
This is the stage that makes Nefertem tallow different. We repeat the filtering process three times.
Each time, freezing the tallow, melting it again, and filtering it through multiple layers of cloth.
This removes the tiny impurities that most brands leave behind.
The result is a tallow that is smooth, firm, and extremely clean, with a mild scent.
STEP 5. NATURAL CURING
Once the tallow has gone through its triple filtration, we let it cure in open air.
Curing is a traditional method that allows the tallow to firm up naturally and release any remaining odors and moisture.
It also improves stability and texture.
This stage takes time, but it is a vital part of what makes our tallow superior in quality, consistency, and purity.
STEP 6. READY FOR FORMULATING
After curing, the tallow is cut into blocks and becomes the base for our moisturizers, soaps, balms, and salves.
We combine it with organic plant oils, herbs, and pure essential oils to create nourishing formulas that absorb well and support healthy skin.
Every batch is made by hand in small quantities to ensure freshness and quality.
WHY OUR PROCESS MATTERS
This method is slower and far more labor intensive than commercial rendering, but it creates a tallow that is:
- Extremely clean and stable.
- Naturally mild in scent.
- Rich in nutrients.
- Firm and smooth.
- Ideal for crafting skincare.
Most importantly, our process respects the ingredient. We treat it like the traditional craft that it is.
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TALLOW?
Explore the full benefits of tallow on our Why Tallow page.
Discover our Quality Promise to see how we source, test, and select every ingredient with care.
Visit our Ingredients List to learn what we use, why we use it, and where each ingredient comes from.
These three pages together give you a complete picture of why tallow is such a powerful ingredient and why we choose to make it the way we do.
WATCH OUR TALLOW RENDERING PROCESS
Our Promise
Free Shipping on Orders $75+
Clean Ingredients. Pure Intentions.
Small-Batch Handcrafted
Money Back Guarantee