USGS Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How did Chinese tallow come to America?

Answer:

Chinese tallow was reportedly introduced to the United States by Benjamin Franklin in 1772. It was also introduced to South Carolina in the late 1700's. Because of the large amount of vegetable tallow found in the seed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced it to the Gulf of Mexico Coast region in the 1900's to help establish local soap industries.