We were at the House of Seven Gables, paying for our tour, when the woman at the counter mentioned that there was a super old candy shop across the street. She mentioned some other things like gift shop, gardens, and maybe some other stuff, but all I pretty much stopped listening after she said, "candy." After our tour, we made our way here and, as small as it was, I had the darnedest time trying to figure out which truffles to get. One of the ladies behind the counter- super nice and patient- helped us pick out our chocolates and more importantly, how to tell them apart. Her brief tutorial was priceless and took all the mystery out of what we had in our little box when we opened it later. read more

oooh, everything here is amazing I get dark chocolate there all the time. Its across from house of 7 gables, so its an easy stop if your doing the tourist thing in salem read more

This place sits right on the edge of adorable, teetering toward ticky tacky tourist. I loved the historic candies and the smart little girls behind the counter, but what really blew me away was that dark chocolate, almond, caramel treat I tried. It looked like a turtle to me, but they have their own name for it. Regardless of what they call it, I suggest you buy a dozen and do not share with anyone! read more

Super cute old fashioned candy shop with delicious treats. The molasses hard candies were so good and the peppermint and lemon old fashioned candies were perfect! I also purchased a few pieces of fudge that I was not super impressed with (pistachio, maple something, and a lemon). The store is quite small and got very crowded quickly. There is no flow in the traffic so it was annoying to try and look around and get in line to purchase my items. read more

You know its good when the line is out the door and down the street. We were lucky enough to have gone in here before crowds of people arrived in town. The prices aren't bad and you can order online after you get home and get jonesing the blackstrap molasses sticks, known as black jacks. We decided instead of buying cheap candy for the hotel room snacks, as you know you need hotel room snacks, we thought we'd go in there and get them. Hellz yeah, we did and they were gone the next night. We ended up in here a couple of times before left. I had to order online because everyone I gave candy to when i got home wanted more. So, if you can't get to Salem, get to the website and order some up.http://www.peppercandy.net/ read more

I have wanted to go here since I saw it on the food network. I be live this is America's oldest candy shop. This place has old fashioned black jacks, and Gibraltars like no body's business. Most of the candy though is chocolate and fudge, which I didn't try since the veganism seemed to get in the way. But I am a sucker for hard candy :) And the black jacks here really are to die for the flavor is deep and smooth and the candy has this unique crunch. I also love the Gibraltars that come in lemon and peppermint. I've had them before, and seriously they will break your teeth if you don't wait to eat them. Supposedly, they get softer after three weeks, so you're supposed to wait. But I am a fat kid and I really can't wait that long so I will still attempt to eat these rock hard pieces of almost pure sugar goodness. I will totally be back to this hidden gem, that's only about half an hour outside the city and sells badass treats. Now that I am almost done with my black jacks, I wish I had bought another bag. Sad :( read more

I haven't been here in years and have been thinking about it non-stop for the past few days. I LOVE their Black Jack candy. It's hard sticks of molasses - unique taste that I can't find anywhere else. Plus it's right across the street from the House of the 7 Gables. It's awesome on so many levels. I think I need to fly to Salem. I need my candy fix. read more

Total sugar overload! I like this place so much. Add the fact that this the oldest candy shop in America and I'm in love. There are so many choices; fudge, chocolate, hard candy, etc. I finally went with the milk chocolate turtles, orange slices and the root beer barrels. They all were double yummy especially the root beer barrels, so good it tastes like an actual root beer and not some funky artificial flavor. This place can get packed with only 5 people which kinda sucks when you want to browse and everyone is on top of you. Still a great place and worth a stop. read more

We stopped here after the house of 7 gables tour. They had lots of cute candy confections to choose from. I picked up a couple of souvenirs to take back with me. They had a handful of "witch" novelty chocolates that will make the kids happy. We sampled a couple of candies they had out for customers. Prices were reasonable and the candy seemed very fresh. read more

Rude staff (to the point I just left) and prices sky high. I used to love this place, I was really disappointed.

The Gibralter in the old time envelope packaging is fantastic! Peppermint and lemon. My friend's fudge was one hundred years old, however. Cute shop. Worth a visit. Lots of history to it. The turtles were really nice and fresh. read more

Ye Olde Pepper Companie is always on my to-do list when I go to Salem. I totally buy into the whole tourist, small town thing. I love a small candy shop overstuffed with sweets, and this place has it. I'm not much for gibraltars and blackjacks, but I do love a good turtle. The turtles here are outrageous. They are huge and absolutely loaded with caramel. Like, it's almost too much. But since "too-much turtles" don't *actually* exist, I was all too happy eat a few. My favorite is the dark chocolate-almond combo -- I feel like the harder nut holds up to the caramel especially well. The other little chocolate confections are great too. I always go for a few creams and truffles. The fudges are a little too rich for my blood, but if you're the kind of person that always enjoys fudge, you'll love the selection here. Take the ferry to Salem at 9:30am, and have some chocolates for brunch on your way into town. You know I won't judge you. read more

A fantastic little candy shop! I walked in and was floored by the selection of candy in such a tiny space. I got two bars of fudge, as well as an assortment of candy sticks, and didn't feel cheated on the price as I would have with a lot of other candy stores in touristy areas. This candy store has a lot of historical charm, which is always a plus. I believe they've been making candy in Salem for over 200 years. I see their candy sold all across the state in tourist shops and specialty stores, but nothing beats paying a visit to the real thing! read more

My daughter & I were at the House of 7 Gables when we saw this place. I have a terrible sweet tooth, so we decided to go in & see what they had. Imagine my surprise when I felt like I was transported back in time. A real old fashion candy shoppe. Lots of candy to choose from. Everything from chocolate fudge to salt water taffy. Our mouths were watering. I definitely felt like a kid in a candy shoppe (I know...cliche). Of course we had a hard time deciding what we wanted so we wound up buying $22 worth of candy. Well worth it. Yes the outside could use a good paint job, but if that is the worst thing about this place....so be it. I personally think it adds to the flavor of the shoppe. It is a piece of candy paradise tuck away for all to find. read more

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

We were told this was a must see, the oldest operating candy store in the country. Well there's not much to see except their own brand of candy which didn't taste as good as the original candies they are copying like Swedish fish, gum drops, etc. read more

On the outside, Ye Olde Pepper Companie looks like it may fall over at any moment. The paint is chipping, the building itself looks rickety, and there is little to indicate whether this place is open or not (or has been for the last 20 years, for that matter). A piece of paper on the door tells people traveling in groups to limit themselves to 10 at a time within the store. But I say that's pushing it - five should be more like it. There's no space to be wasted here. As a business, this place literally had hundreds of years to refine their model, practices and product. Apparently, they claim to still use many of the same machines and techniques to make their candy, too. I wouldn't hesitate to agree, as their candies have a craftsmanship and precision that can only come from old school machines, operated by people who don't need a manual. There isn't a mass-produced quality to any of the stuff they sell - and they sell a lot. Caramels, truffles, milk chocolates, dark chocolates, candies from the stone age, fruit slices, fudge and more. Though I've been here about five times, I must admit that I've never had the fudge. Can't say the same for everything else, though. Almost all of their chocolates are available in dark, milk and even sometimes white variates. So you're sure to be able to customize to your liking. The help is always helpful and attentive here, and always eager to chat you up. Parking is scarce, so be forewarned. And I've learned to forgive them for misspelling their own name. read more

Candy is ordinary. In fact it should be called a chocolate store. There really is no candy. Also, the staff is paranoid about covid and make you feel like you are out to kill them with COVID. the prices are high for ordinary stuff. read more

The oldest candy shop in the US! Such a fun stop on a trip to Salem. Really grumpy cashiers that don't seem interested in tourists at all. I get it, but also, c'mon. Still a great stop on a visit to Salem. read more

I got the wintergreen patties and vanilla caramel both of which were absolutely amazing! My mom got some fluffernutter fudge for her and my sister and ended up eating it all on the way to meet my sister! read more

"A-okay." This is a cute candy shop known for creating a specific piece of candy, Gibraltar. I tried the Gibraltar but decided not to buy any. The rest of the store is stocked with standard candy store stuff. I bought the gummy lobsters (come in a bag, I'm sure they're from another manufacturer) and a few chocolate cherries and turtles. The chocolate was good. If you're walking by, go ahead and pop in to grab yourself a little strolling snack. I would not rank this high on the "to see" list. read more

Let me say this. The three star rating is because of the staff. Been coming for 11 years and I can honestly say I've never had good service. More "yes,no" answers and I don't feel all that welcome. Staff doesn't really have knowledge of the product either. That said. It's pretty good candy and around Halloween the sweet abs sour pumpkins are unmatched. Location is perfect being directly across from the House of the 7 Gables. They recently renovated and that seems to make the flow inside a lot better. It's a small show room but the renovations helped. We always stop when in town. Always remember. Most of the experience for ppl is how they're treated. We've continually have gone and eaten/visited places that probably aren't the greatest in the world but we were treated good and because of it we have great memories and always go back read more

I try to visit this place whenever I'm on that side of Salem, even if I have no intention of buying anything. For a place so small, their selection is outstanding. I have to admit, I do feel like a kid in a candy store here. I did try the gibraltars, the old-fashioned molasses candies they've been making since their inception, and I really enjoyed them. Last time I went, they had also added some old-fashioned sodas in really interesting flavors. It was fun bringing a date here once too - what better excuse to go crazy and buy unhealthy amounts of chocolate? The only downside is if you catch the wrong time - school groups visiting the House of the Seven Gables across the street often drop in. They usually don't stay long if they do but there can be a moment when you feel just overrun with children salivating for candy they can't afford. read more

Loved the service here! I brought a group of students for trips and their means of organizing and efficiency were excellent! Thanks for an easy visit! read more

The dark chocalate turtles and clusters are incredible. The stuff is extremely friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. I love this place! read more

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

We came here to see the first candy company on a Saturday morning. It was cute. The people working weren't the most helpful in the world, and it would have been really helpful if we could have sampled certain things before we spent 40 bucks in there. The chocolates were fine, but nothing to really write home about - the caramels were a bit hard for my liking. Frankly I think it is overpriced. We had to throw one bag of licorice away because it tasted worse than anything I could have imagined and was incredibly stale. There are also a fair number of over-emphasized signs all over the store about touching and stealing and such, which generally turn me off to a place... thanks for thinking I'm a criminal before I even move, yeesh! read more

Ye olde tourist trappe. This place is pretty much like any other candy shop in a touristy area. The prices are sky high. Because they claim that the Gibralter was the first commercially made candy in America, I decided to buy it (even though the cost was outrageous). It was interesting, but nothing I'd have to get again. Basically it's just sugar that's been flavored with lemon or peppermint and whipped into a flat bar-like thing. The peppermint is similar to those semi-soft mints some restaurants give you with the bill. Four envelopes containing a bar of about 3" x 1" of this confection was just under $5.00. Not worth it, in my opinion. read more

Should let less people in at a time. Poor customer service. I was going to get fudge until I saw a fly crawling all over it! Definitely NOT worth the hype or the wait in the long line. read more

Very very small!!!!!!! You walk in and it's usually a large group of people already in there. When you want to look at the items, you can't because you have someone behind you trying to push past you because the area is so small. CANDY WAS FANTASTIC THOUGH! I loved the Ginger and Sassafras. Salt Water Taffy was yum! read more

This is one of the places we used to get taken for field trips from school. It got way more rave reviews than the House of the Seven Gables across the street, I can tell ya. Old fashioned candy like they made in the early 19th century, plus more "modern" kinds. I LOVE the molasses "black Jack" sticks. Who knew that "burnt" sugar could taste so good? The place is populated by very nice little old ladies, sometimes in in prim aprons, who give you an account of Ye Old Pepper Companie history, and answer your questions about how candy is made. They fit the old fashioned atmosphere perfectly. You can see some of the old-timey candymaking equipment in another room abutting the shop sales area. This is a great place to take the bambinos and your granny when you want to buy them treats. read more

I don't know what these girls problem is but not just at holiday time but EVERY TIME MAJOR ATTITUDE PROBLEMS , I am nice to them even if it's crowded they could be a little nicer they like rush you and look at you all nasty like your bothering them. ASSSSSSHOLESSSSSSSSSS read more

Had to stop in my favorite chocolate/fudge store in Salem! This time around I purchased some chocolate. The peanut butter meltaways were decadent. The 1/2 pound box makes a nice gift for a fellow candy lover. read more

I had to wait for an hour for the tour at the House of Seven Gables, so I decided to get candy from Ye Olde Pepper Comapnie. When I saw the name, I thought they sold peppers covered with chocolates, which wouldn't be good. Luckily, they don't sell chocolate covered peppers, they sell old fashioned candy made on the premise. You can even see the kitchen where they make the candy. There was a short line outside hat moves quickly. They don't allow too many people in the store at once so you can have a stress free, crowd free shopping experience. While waiting in line, we were given candy- some sort of molasses candy, and a lemon candy. It makes the wait shorter. Once we entered the store, the lady at the counter explained to us that there were 2 different places to line up - one line for chocolates, one line for fudge and turtles. Fudge? Yes. I love fudge. The problem was that we could not decide which flavors to pick- chocolate, vanilla, snickers, M&M? We settled on cookies and cream and peanut butter. They were already cut into small pieces, 2 pieces cost less than $3 (they charge by weight). I would highly recommend coming here to fulfill your sweet tooth! read more

Enjoyed the fresh peanut brittle and my grandson loves his bucket of candy! The bucket has an overwhelming selection of treats! Thank you!!

This place bills itself as the oldest candy store in America. It's right across the street from the House of Seven Gabels in Salem, MA. It's a small place, but when you walk in you are just hit with such wonderful aromas. Not overpowering, just enough for a chocolate buzz, if you know what I mean. Try their turtles. They had a new one that was a pretzel covered in caramel and dipped in milk chocolate. You gotta be kidding me! The salty pretzel offset the chocolate and caramel perfectly. If you are anywhere near Boston, it's worth a trip here if you like sweets. Extra star for quality and yumminess (Yes, I would take these over See's candy if price were not a factor). Can't give the 5th star because it is slightly more expensive than what I would have expected, all things considered. read more

Great old time candy that I used to get as a kid. Also a nice selection of fresh chocolates. The gingerbread which only comes out seasonally is so good I can't stop eating it. And of course Oprah's favorite pecan turtles are to die for. You can taste the freshness of the caramel and the chunks of pecan are nice and hearty. The store itself is small inside but the selection of candy is huge and they offer something for everyone. read more

Fudge was good and had a cute ambiance but service wasn't good. Staff made it seem like utter chaos. Younger staff were rude to the older lady staff member which made me cringe. read more

Very nice chocolate shop. Like most chocolate shops these days some of the items can be pricey. They sell bottled sodas which are nice. They also have these small packages of fudge that aren't expensive. Something cool they make are bars, like fudge candy bars. Around the winter holiday season I buy some of their homemade candy canes. The holidays are always a good time for candy. It tends to get crowded in here, but they've moved things around a bit so there's more space. The building doesn't look like much from the outside. It's a hidden gem. read more

Stopped here after learning it is the oldest candy company in America. The workers in the shop were friendly, helpful and very patient with all the questions my husband asked about the different candies. I've never seen so many different styles of homemade candy. The fudge and turtles are excellent with a huge variety. A must stop on your trip to Salem. read more

The almond turtle really is the most delicious turtle I've had. The chocolate is very finely produced and the ratios of chocolate, caramel, and almonds was prefect. We also tried the bog turtle (with cranberries) and the cashew turtle. They were also amazing! We chose an assortment of chocolates and sampled them over a few day. The only negative was the fact that it was October so there was literally a line around the corner. They did monitor people coming in and out so once inside, we weren't crowded which I really appreciated. I'm so glad they have online ordering! read more

Thy couldn't get their store in order to properly serve people, were yelling at customers and even yelling at the only sweet little older lady working in the shop trying to help people. It's a candy store, not that hard to run a business. Definitely discouraged being here and wouldn't return read more