I apologize if I come across as dense, but are suede bar tapes made with actual suede, or is it generally artificial and just has the texture of suede? Specifically I'm looking at kestrel's bar tape.

Suede is any leather that does not include the actual Skin surface, that is top grain.

I know, I just thought it was a strange material for bar tape. I guess I can just ask the guy at my LBS to swap out the suede for something synthetic if I buy it.

You're going to buy kestrel suede tape then ask to swap it?

No, that's just the tape already on the bike I'm thinking of buying.

Small falcons are just not a good source of long Leather strips .. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kestrel