If you’re like me, you may have enjoyed many a jar of Trappist Preserves before realizing that the cheerful label depicted more than just clever advertising.
Trappist Preserves | Made by Trappist Monks in Spencer, Massachusetts Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
In fact, the cauldron-stirring monk on each jar of Trappist Preserves is based on reality, since every all natural batch is made by Trappist monks living right here in New England. At St. Joseph’s Abbey in beautiful Spencer, Massachusetts, to be exact.
Trappist monks are members of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, a Roman Catholic religious order that follows the Rule of St. Benedict. This means they pray and work in common, and strive to “live by the work of their hands.”
Established in 1950, the abbey has found a few creative ways to achieve this. Their newest venture is Spencer Trappist Ale, a brewery project that’s been getting a lot of buzz for being the first and only certified Trappist beer made in the United States, but the sweetest (dating back to the mid-1950s) is the abbey’s line of jams, jellies, and marmalades.
Made by the Trappist monks of St. Joseph’s Abbey since 1954. Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Here’s how they tell the story of how the Spencer Trappist monks came to be masters of all things fruity and spreadable. It actually started with mint rather than fruit:
In the autumn of 1954 the monks who worked in the Abbey herb garden decided to make a batch of mint jelly. The mint had been abundant that year, and they wanted to put it to good use. Their homemade jelly was sent down the hill to be sold at the Porter’s Lodge. The response was enthusiastic. Soon the brothers experimented with other varieties of fruit and wine jellies, jams and preserves. And there were great hopes that jelly-making might prove to be a successful and compatible monastic industry.
Trappist Preserves are available today in 30 flavors, some seasonal. Photo Credit : Aimee Seavey
Today’s flavors number thirty, and include varieties like Concord Grape Jelly, Sweet Orange Marmalade, Rhubarb-Strawberry Preserves, Cranberry Conserve, and Damson Plum Jam.
Looking to buy Trappist Preserves? You can do so via Monastery Greetings.
And if all those different varieties have you curious about the difference between the jams and jellies, here’s a handy guide from the retail site:
Jams are made from puréed fruit
Jellies are made from fruit juice
Marmalades include the fruit peel
Preserves are made from the whole fruit
Conserves are made from whole fruit; raisins & nuts may be added
Are you a fan of Trappist Preserves? Which flavor is the best? And did you know that they were made by monks right here in New England?
This post was first published in 2015 and has been updated.
Aimee Tucker is Yankee Magazine’s Home Editor and the Senior Digital Editor of NewEngland.com. A lifelong New Englander and Yankee contributor since 2010, Aimee has written columns devoted to history, foliage, retro food, and architecture, and regularly shares her experiences in New England travel, home, and gardening. Her most memorable Yankee experiences to date include meeting Stephen King, singing along to a James Taylor Fourth of July concert at Tanglewood, and taking to the skies in the Hood blimp for an open-air tour of the Massachusetts coastline.
