If you care about quality, the next time you’re looking to buy something, you might consider buying from a monastery.
Think about it: the monks (or nuns) have dedicated their lives to prayer and discipline and perhaps have been making their products for decades or even centuries. It’s probably going to be good! And while monasteries are famous for making beer, you can find all sorts of products being produced in monasteries.
[See also: Brave Monks Secretly Save Ancient Books from ISIS Forces]
Of course, there are innumerable monasteries around the world that sell amazing products. But here is a small sample of some of the amazing products made by monks you can buy.
Enjoy!
1) Hot sauce
What you can buy: Red or green habenero hot sauce, as well as meats, wood carvings, rosaries, and more
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: Subiaco Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Subiaco, Arkansas. You can learn more about them on their website.
2) Lip balm and skin cream
What you can buy: Organic beeswax lip balm, honey and rose skin cream, etc
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: St Augustine’s Abbey, a Benedictine abbey in Chilworth, England. You can learn more about them on their website.
3) Dog biscuits
What you can buy: Dog biscuits, made with their original recipe, as well as special dog beds, soaps, leashes, and more
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: New Skete monastery in Cambridge, NY has a community of Byzantine-Rite Franciscans as well as a group of Poor Clares nuns nearby. You can learn more about them on their website.
[See also: The Haunting Stories of 5 Saints Who Battled Demons]
4) Caskets and urns
What you can buy: Hand-crafted wooden caskets and urns
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: New Melleray Abbey is a Trappist monastery in Dubuque, Iowa. You can learn more about them on their website.
5) The world’s best beer?
What you can buy: Three beers: Westvleteren 12, Westvleteren 8, and Westvleteren Blonde. Some people consider the Westvleteren 12 to be one of the best beers in the world.
Where you can buy it: By reservation at the abbey’s brewery, or sometimes at the visitor’s center. Buyers are limited to one or two cases (24 bottles each) every 60 days due to popularity.
Who sells it: The Trappist Abbey of Saint Sixtus in Vleteren, Belgium. Their official site is in Dutch, but they have a Wikipedia page.
6) Bonzai trees
What you can buy: Bonzai trees, pottery, and more
Where you can buy it: At their Garden Center in Conyers, GA
Who sells it: The Monastery of the Holy Spirit is a Benedictine monastery in Conyers, GA. You can learn more about them on their website.
[See also: 3 Fascinating, Rare Videos of St. Padre Pio, the 20th Century Stigmatist]
7) Printer ink and toner
What you can buy: Ink and toner for just about any kind of printer
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: St. Andrew’s Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in Valyermo, California. You can learn more about them on the website.
8) Coffee and tea
What you can buy: Coffee, tea, mugs, and more.
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: The Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel is a new religious community founded in Wyoming in 2003. You can learn more about them on their website. They are also in the midst of raising money to build an awesome new monastery.
9) Bread and condiments
What you can buy: “Monk’s Bread,” preserves, mustard, honey, butters, and more
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: The Abbey of the Genesee is a community of Trappist monks in Piffard, NY. You can learn more about them on their website.
[See also: U2’s Bono Explains Why Jesus Must Have Been God]
10) Fruitcake
What you can buy: Fruitcake
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: Assumption Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in rural Ava, Missouri. Here’s a great video about their life and work, and you can learn more about them on their website.
11) Fudge
What you can buy: Fudge, as well as cheese and fruitcake
Where you can buy it: Website
Who sells it: The Abbey of Gethsemani in Trappist, KY is a community of Trappist monks. This was the home of the spiritual writer Thomas Merton.
[See also: Thomas Merton’s Fascinating Final Lecture on the Problem with Marxism]