Jam, cherries and beans by the Benedictines
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Critics say they are cashing in on centuries-old religious traditions, while others maintain they are merely fighting for survival. Either way, Poland’s business-savvy monks are making a tidy profit with their latest venture – bringing their recipes to the masses.
The Benedictine monks have been living in the Tyniec abbey near the historic city of Krakow for over one thousand years. Their day starts with a 6am prayer followed by four more sessions later in the day.
But the Benedictines felt they were losing their footing in the community and decided something needed to be done. That something was to open a food shop. Three years and 40 shops later, that idea has become a success.
While “Prayer Book apricot jam” and “Teutonic Knights cherries in syrup” may sound like something from a Monty Python-themed restaurant, they are actually just two of over 500 goods on offer in the popular stores.
“Most of these articles are made with all traditional recipes that were gathered by monks,” explains Ola Turkiewicz, who runs one of the five Warsaw outlets.
As well as being a financial success, the shops have also re-introduced the Benedictines to the public.
Abbot Bernard Sawicki calls the shops “a form of promotion for our values.” “Many people coming for the first time hear about Benedictines; about our tradition, about our monastery. And thanks to these products […] they come to visit our abbey,” he says.
The Benedictine monks' commercial activity has its critics, who claim that it has become too commercialized. However, Father Sawicki is confident that their monastic vocation has not suffered as a result.
“In our case it wasn’t easy to maintain our way of life. As a small parish it wasn’t possible to survive. It was necessity which forced us to develop this activity.” he says.
Whether they really are trying to preserve their way of life or whether they are more interested in turning a quick profit, that does not change one simple fact – as long as the customers keep rolling in, these shops aren’t going anywhere.
