A combination of tradition and modern technology is present even in monasteries all around the world. There are few interesting examples of prayer and meditation on the one side and alcohol production on the other side.
The Grande Chartreuse monastery is home to a cloister of Catholic monks and also a birthplace of Chartreuse, a strong herbal liqueur made by the Carthusian Monks since 1737 according to the instructions set out in a manuscript given to them by François Annibal d'Estrées in 1605. It is popular in French ski resorts where it is mixed with hot chocolate and called Green Chaud. The price of one bottle is about €50 and—if we know that Chartreuse brand sold 1.5 million bottles in 2015—we can see that that income is not neglecting.
This popular and expensive drink is made from 130 plants, herbs and flowers. But the recipe is a carefully kept secret. Only 3 monks make the plant mixture, which is delivered to the distillery in plain packaging so the ingredients cannot be identified by employees from outside the monastery who help with production. Although a handful of people work at the distillery, about 15 miles from the monastery at Saint-Pierre-de-Chartreuse, the monks control the operation remotely from the monastery. They use computers to adjust temperatures during production and even shut down the process if necessary. There is a large amount of alcohol vapor and the distillery should be relocated to a more remote site because of the safety risk.
Another big producer of alcohol among monasteries can be found at Andechs Abbey (southwest of Munich) where Benedictine monks have brewed their namesake beer since 1455. What's behind the increasing popularity of such drinks? Beth Bloom, a food and drink analyst at global market research group Mintel says that one of the things that make these drinks so popular is their source—their makers and their tradition.
There is also Trappist beer which is brewed by Trappist breweries. Eleven monasteries, six in Belgium, two in the Netherlands and one each in Austria, Italy and United States, currently brew beer and sell it as Authentic Trappist Product.
Even more interesting and modern product can be found on a farm in Merced, California. Nuns from the Sisters of the Valley show their devotion to healing through medicinal products made from their own marijuana crop. Sister Kate Meeusen founded non-aligned religious order in 2015. The group's beliefs form the core of their business practices. The women pray and meditate while preparing the recipes in the abbey kitchen. Production follows the lunar cycle.
These products, made from cannabidiol (CBD), are classified as hemp, legal for sale and export internationally. Price range is going from $85 to $95 per item and customers can buy their CBD oil, salve, or tincture online.
Photo Credits: Nalivali ru
