Stillingia tallow facts for kids

Stillingia tallow, also known as Chinese vegetable tallow, is a special kind of fat. It comes from the outer coating of seeds found on two trees: the Chinese tallow tree and the Mountain tallow tree. People traditionally used this fat to make candles. It's important not to confuse stillingia tallow with stillingia oil, which is a different oil taken from inside the seeds of these same trees.

For a long time, the plants that give us this tallow were known by different scientific names. They were once called Stillingia sebifera and Stillingia discolor. Later, around the 1950s, scientists changed their names to Sapium sebiferum and Sapium discolor. But since about 2002, these trees have been reclassified again into the genus Triadica. The second tree's name was also changed to Triadica cochinchinensis. So, the name "stillingia tallow" comes from an older name for the plants.

What is Stillingia Tallow?

The fruit of the Chinese tallow tree (Triadica sebifera) looks unique. It has three parts and holds three seeds inside. Each seed is covered by a waxy, fibrous layer. This waxy layer is where the vegetable tallow fat is found. The seeds themselves contain a good amount of this tallow fat, usually between 20% and 30% of their weight. They also contain stillingia oil, which makes up about 10% to 17% of their weight.

What is it Made Of?

Stillingia tallow is mainly a mix of natural fats called triglycerides. These are common types of fats found in many plants and animals. Think of them as tiny building blocks made from glycerol and different fatty acids. The main types of triglycerides in stillingia tallow are specific kinds of fats like palmitate and oleate.

How is Stillingia Tallow Used?

People have used stillingia tallow for many years, especially for making candles. It burns well and provides light. Some reports suggest that this "tallow" can be eaten and might even be used in sweets like candy. However, it's not very common to use it for food. This is because there's a risk that the tallow could get mixed with the oil from the seeds, which can be harmful if eaten. So, it's safer to use it for things like candles rather than food.