This was a cute little shop to visit after leaving the House of Seven Gables across the street. They are still following COVID guidelines and are only allowing so many people at a time in the store. They have a lot of truffle flavors that I haven't saw other places. We tried a few and they were pretty good. All of the employees were very friendly and I love how it was decorated with witches. Definitely worth a pop in if you are in the area. read more

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We had to visit on our recent trip to Salem. It's a candy shop. Small and crowded, with very little room to move. But the fudge was great - we bought a few different flavors. Yum! read more

It's just a place that needs to be visited when in Salem. The company has been operating since 1806. It all started with the Gibraltars & Black Jacks. We had to buy them since it's the first candy ever invented. It's not the best tasting candy in the world, so you may want to skip that. I should have bought some chocolates while I was there. I tasted samples of the chocolate covered cherry candy. That was very good. They had various different flavors of fudge. Some interesting ones such as Snickers and Oreo Cookie. They also have some hard to find candies such as root beer barrels and vinegar caramels. We originally visited because we were told that they have candy making demonstrations. They apparently don't do it at the original location anymore. That was a little disappointing. Other than that, it was a neat little visit. The House of the Seven Gables is right around the corner from it. Save some time to see both while you're in the area. read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - The Oldest Candy Company in America - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

I wanted to absolutely love this place, but it's pretty much the same as any other homemade candy store. I mean, don't get me wrong, I love me anything with an old-timey feel, but once you've been to one older candy shop, you've kind of been to them all. Since it's the "first candy store in the US," I had to pay it a visit just so that I could cross it off my list. It's a cute, little shop. The staff was super friendly and helpful, and the shop itself is well-maintained. Prices are what you'd expect for homemade candy, but they also have packaged candies for sale. Street parking outside is available but limited. The further away you park, the better. The chocolate turtles were delicious, but the Gibralters (both the lemon & mint varieties) were too similar to the chalky dinner mints in my opinion. Luckily, my friend loves dinner mints, so she got to keep those all to herself. I wouldn't necessarily make a special trip to return to this store, but if I'm ever in the area with out-of-town guests, it's a good, nostalgic spot to hit up. read more

The oldest candy company in America... I didn't go in cuz of parking. Husband did. He came out with chocolate covered peanuts, some other chocolates, a lemon thing, a maple stick, and coffee. Pretty damn good those chocolate covered peanuts were and whatever the lemon thing was. The maple stick was something you sucked on and even better in the coffee. read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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You can tell it's legit but the authentic spellings of 3 of the 4 names in the title. I asked what the original name was since I'm sure it didn't start off as a new "ye olde" company but I couldn't get an original name. On to the candy. I got a box of chocolates as a gift and a peanut butter cup and a piece of toffee for myself. The box looked fancy and made for a nice present and the chocolate I had tasted great but was a little pricey and for those items behind the counter, there's no sign on each, so it will either rack up quickly in price or you can ask each time. The staff seemed friendly and the place is small but does have a good variety. It's got some nice items for the sweet tooth and some lobster candy/saltwater taffy/other regional treats and standard chocolates. There's nothing about being the "oldest candy company in the country" that makes it more interesting to visit if you are looking to hit historic sites. I'm not sure if it's an original building but there's nothing super unique inside, but it's still good chocolates for the sweet tooth. read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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A trip to Salem is never complete without a stop at the Oldest Candy Store. Period. We haven't been to Salem in a year since Covid and were so happy to make it for our Shopping & eating day through the City. It was nice to see a nice coat of sunny happy yellow paint to replace the white. Great job! The candies and fudge are delish! Peanut butter for me and chocolate marshmallow for hubby. The workers are always so busy with people coming and going and yet the lines even when scary long and around the corner move quickly. read more

Best chocolates and fudge in Salem, hands down. The girls working the counter were very friendly and helpful! I loved seeing the equipment in the back, really contributed to the genuine feel of the place. I got some truffles and fudge, both of which were absolutely delicious! I recommend the brown butter fudge- it's some of the best I've ever had!! read more

Such an adorable and historic candy shop near Salem's downtown area (across from the House of Seven Gables). Great selection of assorted chocolates and many hard to find candies. They have a great selection of taffy and hard candies. COVID update: be prepared to wait in long lines the month of October. It is a very small space and only 6 customers are allowed at a time. It is SO worth the wait! read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Yaaaaas!! - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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There's a great selection of modern candy here and a few old fashioned candies, including one that was apparently the first commercially produced candy. I'm in it for the history so I was a bit disappointed that the store didn't have more of that - historical information and/or other historical candy. But I can imagine it is a balancing act between what history nerds would like to see and what most people would like to buy and eat. Definitely worth a stop if you're in the area! read more

I just couldn't help myself, it's Milk Chocolate Day (07/28) and I just had to write a review of Ye Olde Pepper Companie. Anyone who knows me, knows my love of chocolate. I have been called an addict, I have been called obsessed, some think I would willingly live off chocolate as my sole food source. These opinions, mind you, come from friends and family. They know me to well! Thus I believe I am a connoisseur of chocolate. The chocolate here is absolutely amazing! I decided to come here because the tour guide who dropped us off in Salem, said this was America's oldest candy company. He also said they sell candy made exactly like back during the Revolution. I was curious and wanted to see it. They did in fact sell those types of candies: Gibraltar's and Blackjacks. This is where I got some candy to give to a friend's roommate whose birthday I went to when I got from vacation. While here I noticed they sold fine chocolate... my hunger arose. I bought one piece of chocolate (a sea salt caramel milk chocolate piece) on my way to the House of the Seven Gables that is just a few blocks from the store. One bite... sent me straight to Heaven! This was the best chocolate I had ever eaten. It didn't just melt in my mouth, I melted into the street. The mix of savory salt, smooth chocolate and sweet caramel... oh lord my mouth salivates thinking about it! Before this bite, I thought Fannie Mae Chocolate in Chicago was the best... not anymore. I resolved that I would return before I left Salem to buy chocolate to take home with me back to Miami! I did return, and I bought fudge to take back with me to the hotel... and then a huge box to take with me back to Miami. If I could, I would have taken the store with me! If your in Salem visiting, you need to come here! Buy here! Eat from here! If you can't get to Salem... order from here online! https://www.oldepeppercandy.com read more

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Coll candy shop with lots of neat options. It is the oldest in the US so of course we stopped in after our tour of the House of Seven Gables. We went in hungry so that was our first mistake (oh and we took our kids in - second mistake). They have a chocolate case and a fudge case. We each picked out a few items we wanted to have and snack on during our stay. They also offer some packed candy made like they did when the store would have first opened. We purchased a bag for us to try. It really was not bad and had a little sweetness to it. The staff was nice and offered a bit of help on the items. The store was not busy when we were in there so we had time to look and ask questions. Very cute shop with some interesting items and a bit of history while you are there. read more

Oprah recommends this place, but what does she know? They have a sign by their chocolate turtles that says it's one of her favorite things. I'm not an Oprah fan. I don't care much for her Starbucks Chai, and these turtles didn't taste fresh. They tasted like they've been sitting around for weeks. I could have gone to Walmart and gotten the same thing for less than $23/lb. read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

The shop is tiny and super cute. You really feel the tininess when you step inside, especially when there are other people in there browsing (and it felt like there were always other people inside browsing!). There is so much candy here. You will find a lot of old fashioned candy, like black jacks, taffy, sugar sticks, ginger candy and the like. You'll also find lots of chocolate (and chocolate-dipped things, like chocolate-dipped Oreos, chocolate-dipped pretzels, chocolate-dipped marshmallows, etc.) We opted for a handful of gummy fruit slices, in lemon-lime, grape, watermelon and cherry. They were really good! Four gummy slices put us back a dollar and some change, so it's not the most economical place to buy candy, but the variety and quality (and novelty) make it worth it. read more

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This place is one of the hidden little gems in Salem. I say hidden, because literally no one told us about this spot while we were on vacation. We got information about some of the typical tourist spots, like the House of the Seven Gables and the Witch Museum. But while we were down by the wharf, we happened to find this place on accident. It's tucked away, just a cute, old little storefront. But inside, it's full of an amazing amount of different candies. Their chocolates are so good! I came back twice before we left, because I kept eating the chocolates that I was saving to bring home as souvenirs. I regret nothing! It's a neat place to poke around, and the chocolates are really good too. Though, I admittedly can't comment on Oprah's favorite turtles, since I 1) don't care what Oprah has to say about chocolate and 2) don't like nuts. But this place is definitely worth checking out. Bonus: they have a really good variety of sugar free items, too. read more

Loved it Got the blackjack molasses sticks, lemon and pepermint gibralters, and a licorish pipe. It was all great! Although I was surprised by the size of the gibralters. Brought them back to share with folks at home and everyone liked them. Can't speak for everything in the shop, but these historic candies had little to no food coloring, which was nice as it allowed my siblings to eat them (allergies). Shop was a bit small, and a few blocks away from the main tourist street- but totally worth a stop! read more

Great chocolate candies and truffles. Old fashioned sweets many are house made. Place was swamped with customers. read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Lots of stuff - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

We walked a ways to get there and I laughed as we approached because there was a line. It's a Saturday in October. We waited and finally got it. Lots of chocolates and fudge. I got a selection. It's expensive but in a touristy area so not surprising. I thought it all would be okay. I was wrong. It was amazing. The raspberry jellies were the best I have ever had and I love raspberry jellies. I've had them all over. The orange pumpkin gummies were really flavorful. It is worth the walk and the wait! read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - The line outside on a Saturday in October. - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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For a smallish place, this shop packs a big punch. There is a wide variety of yummy candy treats, especially of the chocolate variety. I was recommended the cherry cordials and definitely would get them again. The turtles were also delicious. Ask for recommendations and try them out! read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie the oldest candy shop in the USA. While in Salem, Ma I had to give this place a try. It was neat to look at from the out side the building was a small grey Salt box style cape cod looking house. But sadly not wheelchair accessible, which I can understand given it's age. Good thing I had my son with me. I sent him in told him what I wanted. He came out about 40 minutes later this place is popular and busy. I got their signature candies (Molasses Blackjacks) not bad if you like the flavor of Molasses, I also tried their Peppermint Gabarlters, Not a fan of peppermint, Not for me but I had to try. and the No Brainers. Old fashioned Lemon Drops & N.E. Saltwater Taffy. Oh Yeah Ye Olde Pepper Companie is a must take while visiting Salem, Ma read more

Small candy shop across from the Seven Gabels. In Salem, Massachusetts this place is down town in walking distance from the mairetime national park. The building is old and has a step to get in with no wheel chair entrance. It is a tight squeeze that gets busy easy. The chocolate is done well and lots of cute and creative options. There are plenty of choices for the whole family. Home made fudge and truffles, maple candies and more. My favorite was the chocolate covered gummy bears. The oldest candy shop in the United States and a great attraction. read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - The oldest candy shop in America. Full selection of fan favorites and the things that got them started! - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

AN ABSOLUTELY MUST DO! Ye Olde Pepper Companie is THE OLDEST CANDY STORE IN AMERICA & has Candy that Can't be Found Anywhere else. The Shop has been in existence since 1806. This is a Great Place to buy unusual Gifts for the person who has a sweet tooth. See Below Gifts. Ye Olde Pepper Companie is located right across the street from The House of Seven Gables in Salem MA. Imagine the shop was created a mere 30 years after the country was first born in 1776 & it's still around today. AMAZING! Co-owner Bob Burkinshaw 3rd Generation & his daughter, Jackie , Fourth Generation are candy makers who still make the same sweet tasty treats just like they did Back in the Day. Not only are the old fashioned recipes from the 1800s still being used & are the same but also some of the equipment dates back to that time period as well. Just look at the Spelling of the shop's name; that tells you Everything. This is how The Olde English & The New colonists spelled things back in the 1800s. It is a completely different spelling than would be used today. The Ye Olde Pepper Companie traces its origin back to an Englishwoman named Mary Spencer who arrived in America in 1806 after being shipwrecked. She was really destitute but luckily she had some great neighbors who helped her out. They gave her some sugar so she could make her candy & support herself. George Pepper a confectioner bought the business in 1830. At the turn of the 20th Century, Burkinshaw's grandfather bought the company from Pepper & now has a multi generational family of Burkinshaws running the operations. It is a small shop but LOADED with all Kinds of Treats, Confections, Chocolates & Candies Both Modern & from Back in the Day too. YOU MUST TRY THE FOLLOWING AT LEAST ONCE IN YOUR LIFE. UNUSUAL GIFTS THAT MOST PEOPLE HAVE NEVER EVEN HEARD OF: 1) Gibralters which are the first commercially sold candies in America. They come in 2 Flavors Lemon & Peppermint. They are an unusual white chalky like consistency Candy that can be broken apart in pieces with your hand & has a Lemony Flavor & the other has a Minty Flavor. 2) Black Jacks are America's First Stick Candy. They are Hand Made Molasses that tastes like Creme Brûlée. These Gibralters & Black Jacks are completely different than any of our modern day candy & have to be tried at least once. THEY ARE GOOD! 3) Home Made Chocolates & Turtles & a Chocolate with a Pistachio Cream Filling that's Delicious. 4) They also carry Seasonal & Holiday Only Candies as well as Salt Water Taffy, Barks, Patties, Squares, Non-Pareils, Brittles, Caramel Corn & Fudge. Ye Olde Pepper Companie is such a Cool Candy Shop loaded with Rich History of Delicious & Unusual TastyTreats. YUM!!!!!! It used to be, you had to have Mega Bucks & be really rich to have The Good Life, not anymore. The Game has changed. You've Been Upgraded. Now You Can Live Like A King On A Limited Budget! read more

Some of the reviews of Ye Olde Pepper Companie make this shop sound like an overcrowded tourist trap, but that wasn't my experience at all. I stopped into Pepper Companie after an early morning tour of the House of the Seven Gables. There were maybe one or two other customers in the shop at the time and 4 employees: a few behind the counter and at the cash registers, and one dressed in Colonial garb, handing out samples. I sampled (and ended up buying) the black strap molasses Black Jacks, which are exclusively made by Pepper Companie, using the original recipe. If you love molasses, these are the treat for you! There were lots of other prepackaged candies and fudge options like you'd find in other candy stores. But the "historical" treats like the Black Jacks are really what makes this place stand out, and totally worth visiting for! read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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One of the oldest candy companies in the U.S. and it was really good. Lots of old fashioned candies, chocolates and taffy. Try the Black Jacks (old fashioned hard candy sticks made of black strap molasses) and the Lemon Gibraltar's (basically pillow mints that melt in your mouth!) read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Lots of candy to choose from in what is supposedly the oldest candy store in America. Not cheap either but cute.

Came here for for some homemade chocolate and I must say that I was extremely pleased. If you're looking for a small authentic chocolate and fudge shop this is be place to be. I would highly recommend it! I ordered the milk chocolate salted caramel pretzel and cookies and cream fudge and I must say it was very fresh and soft. Definitely would come back again! read more

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Cute little shop in this charming little town! The lady working at the Witch House told us to check out the waterfront and this cute little candy shop! We were glad we took their suggestion, because the candy was so good! The ladies working were super nice and told us more about the town and it's atmosphere. If you stop in make sure to try some of their caramels, they were my favorite! read more

Great little candy shop! We loved visiting. The candy was delicious. We loved the handmade taffy! The lady behind the counter said it was handmade by the owner. Can't beat that! read more

Bought a package of their coconut squares at Henry`s market on Tuesday, and the inside of the fondant was a slightly yellow color. I tried two of them and they were definitely rancid. It seems that the milk or cream was old, not fresh, but the expiration date said good til July 13, 2024. The company, it seems, when making this batch, wanted to use up the milk or cream as it was starting to turn. I will not be buying from this company again, and I always had good luck before, but not when they are not using fresh milk and cream. My husband and I were at the Beverly Henry`s market, and he always buys the ones from Winfrey`s. We are loyal customers to Henry`s market and will continue to patronage this wonderful market. read more

Fail. I really wanted to take home something made there. If it ain't chocolate, it seems like it ain't made there. I picked up numerous items and they were all made elsewhere. Prices were also really high. I did love the inside decor. And it is adorable outside as well. read more

This store is neat, there's a lot of seasonal candy that changes frequently. It's in a good place to walk in and do some more shopping. The 200 year old candy in the jar freaks me out for some reason. I don't know what it is about it. Maybe it's the fact that if you'd open it, it could turn to dust, or if you ate it you would probably die instantly. I still find it a really really unique and interesting piece of history though.Other than that it's really cool! They have fudge, sweet popcorn, chocolate, gum, and even retro candy....a lot of it too! (Not counting the old jar candy.) Next time I visit, I will definitely look for this place, it has quite the history and is wicked cute inside. read more

While On our trolley tour today it was suggested we check out the oldest candy store in the US. Which we did but I wasn't to impressed with the chocolate. I did like how many options of chocolates and other candies they had. read more

If it weren't for the fact I'm allergic to nuts I would have gone crazy in this store. They have the distinction of being the oldest American candy store, and even though they're a little off the beaten path in Salem you should make a little trek down there! Crammed into the small shack is a really large variety of candy. True, they do resell some candy from other manufacturers, however almost everything in those glass cases (including the 19th century Gibraltars) is made by them! This place is great for getting a little sugar fix or picking up a few souvenirs for the trip home. There are also little gummy candies for the kids too. Allergy alert: they warned me that pretty much everything in the store is processed on the same equipment and as a result nuts are in pretty much everything, including the resold goods. Times visited: 1 read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

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Super crowded and stuffy. There's no structure so it's just mayhem trying to get a place in line and keep it. I got cut three times trying to buy chocolates but it all worked out in the end and the chocolates were delicious. The salted caramel is the best!! We tried about 14 flavors and the salted caramel blew the rest away. We also tried the infamous black jacks and they are good as well! read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

I visited this place over the weekend after hearing it mentioned on a trolley tour I took around Salem. My friends and I were intrigued that Oprah was a fan of their chocolate turtles so we decided to stop in and try some. They were delicious! We got two dark chocolate sea turtles and two milk chocolate. It was so nice eating them down by the waterfront. I'd definitely stop in again next time I'm in Salem! read more

Cute! Great spot, but was definitely disappointed. Not too much out of the ordinary. Candies you can find at home. Also wish they'd play more on the Halloween theme... walked out empty handed. read more

We come in to Salem, MA once every year and always stop at Ye Olde Pepper Companie. This candy store has it all. If it's the busy Halloween Season, plan to wait in line but definitely bring your money and try a little bit of everything. Great gift ideas too. read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie - Candy Stores Near Me - Salem, Massachusetts

Mmmmmm......America's oldest candy shop. *Homer Simpson drool* On a girl-date with a friend who lives in Salem, I stopped by here not realizing it was across the street from the House of Seven Gables (also on our list of places to visit). Score on location! The store is that cute, slightly squashed, ye-olde-timey everything that's characteristic of fudge and candy shops in small towns across the country. They pack a lot in such a small space. I got the jelly beans, the coconut squares, a peanut butter and chocolate egg and an ice-cream truffle. What's an ice-cream truffle? It's milk chocolate on the outside, creamy, creamy vanilla on the inside. It's also chocogasmic. As was everything else. Except the jelly beans. I should have gotten the gummy bears instead. read more

Charming little candy store in Salem, MA. Large variety of sweets and treats to snack on after a long day of shopping for cauldron and brooms. Try the Gibraltars! Minty goodness. read more

This is a great place to stop. Practically right across from the House of The Seven Gables it is slightly off the beaten path. Oldest candy company in America. There is a lot of selection, many choices. Truefuls are a signature chocolate! Apparently it's a cross between a truffle and a cream center. They are yummy! One thing I will say is the staff here is the friendliest. I mean, they are the best. This goes a long way in my book. This place is always teeming with children and tourists. I personally happen to be a lover of both children, and tourists. However the onslaught must be incessant if I've been here, say, 15 times and it is always the case (I'm a local so that's not 15 times in tourist season or weekends only)! Despite this, the staff is reliably patient, helpful, friendly. It's unusual to feel so at home in a chocolate shop, but the staff ensures this, and does it well. Also I love the history of the place. It is kind of cool to a be part of something like this place. Go experience and enjoy it. Perhaps I should have started my review with the important credentials that the chocolate is really good, and the price is right! Also, of note : I have gone during this Covid era, and they are doing an amazing job with balancing safety protocols with maintaining a welcoming, congenial atmosphere and delicious candy. Thank you! read more