Maple Store Opens in Jericho

Maple season is more than a month off, but Palmer Lane Maple in Jericho, which opened late last year, offers reminders of why we anticipate it. Next door to Snowflake Chocolates at 1 Old Pump Road, the store focuses entirely on maple products, not all of them confections.

While minding the store on Monday, Colleen Palmer patched in her husband, Paul, to chat with Seven Days as he worked on their maple bush. The broad range of products, all made from Vermont maple, juxtaposes the Palmers’ own syrups and candies with some unusual offerings. For instance, chipotle- and habanero-infused syrups from Benito’s Hot Sauce combine the Palmers’ product and peppers from owner Ben Maniscalco. Also on offer are maple-flavored snacks from Williston-based Distler’s Pretzels and maple soda from Vermont SweetWater Bottling Co. in Poultney.

Paul Palmer brags that his maple candies are “gluten free, corn free, nut free and dairy free — everything but sugar free.” Besides maple jelly beans, taffy and caramels, the Palmers craft, of course, pure maple sweets in seasonal shapes — right now, hearts for Valentine’s Day. Easter bunnies will follow.