Soap & Candles

Lard or animal fat was an important mission product. The suet was rendered to provide fat for cooking at the mission. In addition to providing the kitchen with cooking oil, the suet was rendered to obtain the tallow from which they would make make candles and soap.

The mission economy was augmented by the trade of tallow or the products from the tallow (candles and soap) for other necessary items. The mission traded both with the ships which came in (not often enough!) or with neighboring Rancheros.