Holy Moly! There are nuns making cheese. Thanks to a tip from Lia, a Cheese Trail fan, we discovered that on a lovely 470-acre property just minutes outside Tehachapi (near Bakersfield), there's a peaceful convent of about 40 cloistered, contemplative Norbertine sisters crafting artisanal cheese.
For more than 20 years, the Tehachapi Mountains have been home to the Norbertine Canonesses of the Bethlehem Priory of St. Joseph. They are members of a religious order of the Roman Catholic Church dating back to the 12th century, when St. Norbert founded the Norbertine Order in the Prémontré Valley of France.
Each day, the Canonesses perform the full cycle of the divine office, sung seven times daily in both Latin and English. This community is the only one of cloistered nuns in the entire Diocese of Fresno.
Within their enclosure, the sisters joyfully lead a simple life of prayer and work, striving through daily activities toward greater self-sustenance—a requirement for all Norbertines.
The Cheeses: Handcrafted Mountain Delights
The sisters produce three varieties of their signature Mountain Priory Cheese, each reflecting their dedication to quality and tradition:
- Original Mountain Priory Cheese - Their flagship variety is handcrafted using local, raw cow's milk and a recipe uniquely developed at the Priory. Aged for at least two months, it matures into a mild, firm cheese with a smooth, balanced flavor.
- Italian Herb Mountain Priory - This aromatic variation incorporates traditional Italian herbs into their base recipe, creating a fragrant cheese perfect for complementing Mediterranean dishes.
- Smoked Chipotle Mountain Priory Cheese - For those seeking something with a bit more character, this variety blends smoky notes with a gentle chipotle heat for a distinctive flavor experience.
Each cheese is lovingly wrapped in a natural raffia bow and adorned with the Bethlehem Priory label, reflecting both the sisters' attention to detail and their commitment to artisanal production methods.
Visitors are welcome to join the sisters for Holy Mass Monday through Saturday at 8:30 a.m. Guests can also pray in the chapel during the day and join the sisters for the Liturgy of the Hours. A complete schedule is available at norbertinesisters.org.
In their quest for self-sufficiency, the sisters engage in numerous activities. They sew and sell priests' vestments, run a popular dog breeding program, host an annual Christmas wreath and gift box fundraiser, and operate their monastery gift shop, bookstore, and Bethany Guest House—all part of the Norbertine tradition of hospitality.
The sisters also maintain their own greenhouse and organic gardens, tend to more than 150 chickens for eggs, and raise cows and goats for fresh milk to produce their artisan cheeses and dairy products. These specialty cheeses are available seasonally.
The monastery gift shop welcomes visitors daily from 10 to 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 to 5 p.m. There you'll find items handcrafted by the sisters—five-decade and single-decade rosaries, homemade jams and marmalades, specialty anise-almond biscotti, granola, macaroons, body care items, aprons, baby blankets, and specialty greeting cards. You can also purchase their chant CD, religious books, icons, statues, medals, and more. Many items are available for online order as well.
The community is currently fundraising for living expenses and Phase II of their Monastery Expansion Project.
Visiting Information
Directions: From Highway 58, take exit 148 (Tehachapi 202 — Tucker Road). Go south on Tucker Road to Highline Road. Turn right and continue 1.3 miles to Water Canyon Road. Turn left and go 2.3 miles to the brown Norbertine Monastery sign on your right. Turn right onto the property, then right at the white gate, passing the first buildings and priests' log cabin. Continue up the road to the chapel, gift shop, and Bethany House at the top of the hill.
Prayer Requests and Information: Email prayer intentions to pray_req@cybersurfers.net. For more information, call 661-823-1066 or email norbertinecanonesses@gmail.com.
