Have you ever looked at the ingredient list of a product? That moment is often coupled with a discovery of so many ingredients, some of which you've never heard of. Better yet, you see an ingredient listed that is "naturally" popular, yet when you do some digging, you find out it is synthetically derived.

This realisation makes you pause and rethink what you've been putting on your skin and into your body. It changes everything and highlights the importance of going back to basics, and of reconnecting with real, simple ingredients.

This is exactly the journey that gave birth to Tallow SA, a partnership we at Essentially Natural are proud to share.

For the founder, motherhood was the catalyst.

Motherhood Changed Everything

If you're a mother, you can probably relate to the experience of Cathie Beukes, also known as Cat, founder of Tallow SA. Motherhood, it seems, changes everything. It brings about a certain curiosity, with the desire to answer questions most people don't think to ask.

"Becoming a new mum opened her eyes to every label, every ingredient," Cat says, "I started reading every label - food, cleaning products, skincare," she recalls. "Suddenly, it mattered what went into every meal and what touched her baby's skin."

It was then she realised how disconnected we'd become from simple, real ingredients. Slowly, she began replacing processed foods and store-bought creams with homemade, natural alternatives.

It all started in her very own kitchen.

Her first experiment with tallow began with a pot on the stove and a bag of grass-fed beef fat from a local butcher. She describes, "curious to see if this old-fashioned fat was as special as my grandmother used to say. The smell filled the kitchen - wholesome and earthy." That night, the potatoes fried in that tallow were the crispiest she had ever made. Even more surprising, when applied to her son's dry cheeks, the tallow worked better than any baby cream she had tried.

It was in that kitchen, in that simple moment, that she realised "tallow isn't just food - it was nourishment, both inside and out."

What solidified the decision to launch Tallow SA was hearing her friends' feedback: "It actually works." They returned for refills, not just for cooking, but for the skin. She realised there was a craving for wholesome, no-nonsense living, and she wanted to make that easier for South African families. "That's when Tallow SA was born," she exclaims.

A brand rooted in South African values of resourcefulness, craftsmanship, and integrity. Where the heart is kept at the centre. A brand that dreams to keep it real, as Cat puts it, "small, honest, and sustainable."

Tallow SA is more than a business for Cat, she says, "The business side is important, but if the product loses integrity, it's not worth doing. We grow slowly, stay hands-on, and let word of mouth do its magic."

When we think about it, Tallow SA represents everything we at Essentially Natural stand for: a return to nature, a respect for the process, and a deep trust in the power of real ingredients. What started in a family kitchen and the curious heart of a mother turned into something so simple and true.

Proudly South African

Being a South African brand is more than a label; it's a living connection to the land, the people, and the stories that shape our way of life. At Essentially Natural, we've always believed that what makes local brands special is not just what they create, but how they create it. That's why partnering with Tallow SA feels so meaningful. Their products are not just made in South Africa; they are proudly made in South Africa.

"Every jar of Tallow SA carries a piece of this land - from the green pastures where the cattle graze to the hands that carefully render and pour," Cat, the founder, shares. The tallow isn't just an ingredient; it's a story that begins on small farms where cattle roam freely, continues in family kitchens where ancient methods are honoured, and ends in homes where people are rediscovering the beauty of simplicity.

For us, this kind of craftsmanship represents the best of South Africa - honest, grounded, and proudly local. It's about people who still believe in doing things the right way, not the fast way. It's about slowing down enough to see the beauty in our own resources, our own soil, and our own traditions.

Cat explains it perfectly: "South Africa has always been about resourcefulness - using what's local, seasonal, and available. Our farmers and butchers embody that." Each Tallow SA product reflects that ethos: ethical, small-scale, and mindful of waste.

What Makes Tallow so Special?

For someone new to tallow, you would genuinely be surprised by its versatility. Unlike many plant oils or synthetic products, tallow is stable, handles high heat without oxidising, and is perfect for frying, roasting, or adding flavour to any meal. Its high smoke point means golden, crispy potatoes or perfectly seared meat without harmful compounds.

When it comes to skincare, Cat says, "On the skin, it's almost identical to our natural sebum, which means it absorbs deeply, feeds the skin, and restores balance. It's nature's all-in-one fat - the one ingredient our great-grandparents never wasted."

Where Does Tallow Come From?

Sourcing tallow ethically is central to the brand. Tallow SA works exclusively with small South African farmers raising grass-fed, pasture-raised cattle, with a focus on integrity, respect, and nose-to-tail values. Cat explains, "I look for integrity and respect for the whole animal - nose-to-tail values. It's important to us that our tallow comes from healthy, well-cared-for animals because that's what makes it nutrient-rich and golden."

The process itself is meticulous: the suet arrives fresh from local butchers, is rendered slowly over low heat in small batches, filtered multiple times for purity, and then poured and labelled by hand. Every jar reflects simplicity, small-batch craftsmanship, and an attention to care that you can both see and taste.

This approach addresses a common frustration for anyone trying tallow for the first time: inconsistent quality.

Many store-bought or mass-produced options can be greasy, off-flavoured, or overly processed. Tallow SA solves this by combining ethical sourcing, meticulous rendering, and small-batch production to deliver trustworthy beef tallow that's reliable for cooking, skincare, or crafting homemade balms. It's an approach that respects both the animal and the consumer, making each jar a product you can trust.

And trust means dependability, and dependability means it is proudly stocked on our Essentially Natural online store shelves.

Addressing Misconceptions About Tallow

It's easy to hesitate when you first hear about tallow. An ingredient your grandmother might have used, but one that seems out of place in today's world of sleek packaging and synthetic promises. Yet, behind the initial scepticism lies a story of rediscovering tradition and going back to what truly works.

Cat, the founder, goes further to say, "People often assume tallow is heavy or old-fashioned, but it's the opposite - light, deeply nourishing, and sustainable. When you use tallow, you're honouring the whole animal and supporting regenerative farming. It's modern sustainability rooted in ancient wisdom."

There's also the misconception that 'natural' equals 'less effective.' But nature, as Tallow SA demonstrates, got it right the first time. Smooth skin, stable energy, and glowing health are tangible results. Cat has seen tallow transform all skin types, from dry and irritated to acne-prone. One customer even healed burns from cooking oil using tallow balm. Cat exclaims, "And within days, the redness and pain were gone." How amazing is that? It's gentle enough for babies and powerful enough for farmers with cracked hands.

Cat shares, "Once people experience that, they understand that 'natural' is the real luxury."

This balance of being both gentle and strong, both food and skincare, is at the heart of Tallow SA's philosophy. "Your body doesn't separate the two. If your diet is clean, your skin shows it - and vice versa. Using tallow bridges that connection beautifully. It's one ingredient that nourishes both your plate and your skin, reminding us that wellness starts in the kitchen," she says. The products are intentionally dual-purpose.

Cat describes, "We offer food-grade tallow for cooking - ideal for frying, roasting, or adding healthy fat to meals - and skincare products made from the same high-quality base. I guide customers to use it intentionally: one jar can feed your skin or your stew, depending on your need."

A frequent question she hears, always answered with a smile, is: "Can I eat your skincare balm?" Her answer, "technically, yes, you could! It's that pure. Everything we make is edible-grade, though of course, we recommend using the cooking version for food. It always makes people laugh and rethink what 'natural' truly means."

When purity, purpose, and practicality meet in one jar, we can clearly see that the simplest, nature-based ingredients hold the greatest power.

Running a Family-Driven Business

Running a small, family-driven business is challenging, but Cat stays grounded in simplicity: "the smell of rendering tallow, the quiet satisfaction of sealing a jar, the messages from customers who've switched to natural fats and feel amazing. It's work with meaning. My husband and I share it as a family effort, and that keeps us both humbled and proud."

The name Tallow SA reflects this simplicity - pure South African tallow, no frills, no confusion, grounded in our soil and honours the local farmers who make it possible.

Through collaboration with like-minded communities, Tallow SA's vision reaches even further. For Cat, she says, "Partnering with Essentially Natural means being part of a community that values transparency, education, and quality. It feels like joining hands with others who believe that wellness should be both simple and ethical."

Values that we at Essentially Natural live by, a vision we hold dear. We are honoured to support them, small but ethical producers who champion transparency, and make natural wellness meaningful and attainable for everyone.