Its A Scottish Canadian Love Fest!

If you’re not yet one of the lucky people to have discovered Maple & Thistle that sits on the corner of York Place and New Row then can I suggest you get yourself round there lickety spit?  Bursting with Scottish produce, hand-crafted wares, and freshly made juices and cakes this beautiful little shop is what owner Jason refers to as a Trading Post. And I love that we have Trading Post in Perth!

Jason is Canadian, his wife Debbie is Scottish and Maple & Thistle has been inspired by a shop that he owned in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Debbie came to do marketing for him while she was travelling and you can probably guess the rest of the story! One Romance, marriage, pack up shop and ship it all to Scotland later and Canada’s loss is our super-quirky, look-what-else-they-have gain!

The mix of products is truly unique and includes baked muffins and cereal bars (all low sugar but high taste!) and the most delicious cold pressed juice I have ever tasted. Seriously, who knew beetroot, orange and carrot was going to taste so good? I am a convert (convert / brinking on addict. I finally put my bike into Richards for a service so that I can start cycling down in the mornings to pick up a bottle!).

As well as freshly-made and hand-baked goodies they also have produce such as jams, honeys, Summer Harvest Perthshire rapeseed oil and other farmshop inspired products. 

Sitting right alongside all these delicious treats are the handmade soaps that Debbie makes on site, stunning wood carvings and furniture by Jason and a selection of handmade textiles and arty homewares. Amongst their suppliers is Debbie’s mum and other artists who they personally know. The whole place has that creative, artisan vibe going on that guarantees you a unique gift or great piece for your home.

The policy is 100% British – with some original Maple Syrup from Canada every now and then!  Most of the furniture and homewares that Jason shipped from Nova Scotia have sold-out and he is now setting about making his first fully Scottish range.  Infact, as I stand chatting there is half a trunk of a lime tree that came down in a storm, drying out in the corner.  

“We’re trying to avoid being the same as everyone else. We think we’ve got something that’s really unique, the prices are reasonable and we can tell you everything you want to know about any product in our shop!”

I also meet the Maple and Thistle Florist who is tending to a small range of plants and shrubs.  She grows them all from seed and pops in a couple of times a week to water and care for them. There’s chat of fresh cut flowers next summer; for some reason I’m picturing the old Scottish varieties my Uncle Donald grew in his job as Head Gardener at Glen Delvin estate back in the seventies and eighties...

It all feels proper, old-school authentic; as though you’ve walked into your favourite, clever Auntie’s. Juice, muffins, handmade soap, plants being cared for, wood drying out for a carving.  You will love Maple & Thistle, drop in for a chat, follow them on facebook or have a little tweet.     

Maple & Thistle
1 York Place
Perth
Scotland PH2 8EP

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Remember, if you're shopping in Maple 7 Thistle, post, tweet or 'gram your goods adn tage them #PerthLoveFest to be in with a chance of winning £50!