About
A rare rose petal jam is made by Armenian monks on an island monastery in the Venetian Lagoon.
The monastery of San Lazzaro degli Armeni, home to approximately 30 Mekhitarist monks, lies on an island 1.2 miles from the city of Venice. Formerly a leper colony, the isle was named after St. Lazarus who is venerated by those suffering from the disease. May is a special month for visitors to this site as their gardens are in full bloom with roses and artichokes. Each day the monks harvest rose petals at dawn to make vartanush: an aromatic Armenian jam which uses macerated petals, sugar, lemon juice and other secret ingredients boiled together.
