"The Choco Taco, a beloved ice cream truck staple, was discontinued in July, 2022 after around 40 years. However, the taco is making a comeback this summer… with a slight twist."--Mila Boyden, 8th Grade.
The Choco Taco, a beloved ice cream truck staple, was discontinued in July, 2022 after around 40 years. However, the taco is making a comeback this summer… with a slight twist.
The Choco Taco was invented in 1938 by Alan Drazen, a 32 year old who worked in the ice-cream industry at the time. It consisted of a hard shell waffle-cone taco, filled with vanilla chocolate swirl ice cream, dipped in chocolate, and topped with diced peanuts.
The Choco Taco is listed as one of Delish.com’s”Top 15 Best Ice-Cream Treats.”
“A taco in ice cream form had to come from the brain of a child,” wrote Felicia Lalomia in her June 2023 piece for Delish. “It's too crazy to come from the mind of a logical adult, but just crazy enough to work. The crisp waffle cone shell gets a little soggy from the melting ice cream. But the combination of crunchy and creamy textures with salty and sweet flavors make this one of the best.”
Lalomia isn’t alone. “I loved the Choco Taco. I remember eating them all the time in high school,” said Scott Burger, OSA dad and a loyal Choco Taco fan.
Many people have important childhood memories that are centered around the Choco Taco.
“I was probably eight or nine when I first tried the Choco Taco. When I was a kid I used to get them from the ice cream truck that would drive around my neighborhood, and I loved them,” said Beth Brenner, a Choco Taco lover and Finance Director at OSA.
“I remember that the first time I tried a Choco Taco was on a beach in Cape Cod. Every summer we would go to Cape Cod. My kids and I and my husband would indulge in chocolate tacos on a daily basis. It was amazing,” said Amanda Farmer, an English and Social Science teacher at OSA.
Despite being a beloved Ice Cream treat, the Choco Taco was discontinued in July, 2022, two years before its 40 year old anniversary, due to an increase in demand for some products, leading Klondike to shrink their portfolio.
Cece Burger, a second generation Choco Taco Fan said that, “My dad often talks about Choco Tacos. He says that it was the worst business decision ever made by a company to discontinue them. He was really sad and upset. He said he was going to miss them a lot. I never realized that the Choco Tacos were discontinued until recently because my dad was always talking about them, it was like they were never really gone.”
Many fans were disappointed in Klondike, and some even went on negative rants online, shaming Klondike for their decision to discontinue the Choco Taco, while others mourned their loss and shared memories of their beloved treat.
“Story time! When my grandma was alive she would take me to a local mexican fast food place and would always order me one of these [a choco taco], but she had a hard time pronouncing it. Instead of "choco taco,” she would say “chocolate tacolet". Every time I see these I think of her and remember how much she loved me, and I miss her. I'm sad that I won't ever get to have another Choco Taco…I'll never see one again and think of my grandma,” explained one Reddit user.
One X user commented,“Hey @Klondikebar there are bad decisions, like getting a face tattoo or french kissing an alligator, then there are horrifically bad inexcusable decisions like discontinuing the Choco Taco.#sayitaintso #savethechocotaco”
The Choco Taco was invented in 1938 by Alan Drazen, a 32 year old who worked in the ice-cream industry at the time. It consisted of a hard shell waffle-cone taco, filled with vanilla chocolate swirl ice cream, dipped in chocolate, and topped with diced peanuts.
The Choco Taco is listed as one of Delish.com’s”Top 15 Best Ice-Cream Treats.”
“A taco in ice cream form had to come from the brain of a child,” wrote Felicia Lalomia in her June 2023 piece for Delish. “It's too crazy to come from the mind of a logical adult, but just crazy enough to work. The crisp waffle cone shell gets a little soggy from the melting ice cream. But the combination of crunchy and creamy textures with salty and sweet flavors make this one of the best.”
Lalomia isn’t alone. “I loved the Choco Taco. I remember eating them all the time in high school,” said Scott Burger, OSA dad and a loyal Choco Taco fan.
Many people have important childhood memories that are centered around the Choco Taco.
“I was probably eight or nine when I first tried the Choco Taco. When I was a kid I used to get them from the ice cream truck that would drive around my neighborhood, and I loved them,” said Beth Brenner, a Choco Taco lover and Finance Director at OSA.
“I remember that the first time I tried a Choco Taco was on a beach in Cape Cod. Every summer we would go to Cape Cod. My kids and I and my husband would indulge in chocolate tacos on a daily basis. It was amazing,” said Amanda Farmer, an English and Social Science teacher at OSA.
Despite being a beloved Ice Cream treat, the Choco Taco was discontinued in July, 2022, two years before its 40 year old anniversary, due to an increase in demand for some products, leading Klondike to shrink their portfolio.
Cece Burger, a second generation Choco Taco Fan said that, “My dad often talks about Choco Tacos. He says that it was the worst business decision ever made by a company to discontinue them. He was really sad and upset. He said he was going to miss them a lot. I never realized that the Choco Tacos were discontinued until recently because my dad was always talking about them, it was like they were never really gone.”
Many fans were disappointed in Klondike, and some even went on negative rants online, shaming Klondike for their decision to discontinue the Choco Taco, while others mourned their loss and shared memories of their beloved treat.
“Story time! When my grandma was alive she would take me to a local mexican fast food place and would always order me one of these [a choco taco], but she had a hard time pronouncing it. Instead of "choco taco,” she would say “chocolate tacolet". Every time I see these I think of her and remember how much she loved me, and I miss her. I'm sad that I won't ever get to have another Choco Taco…I'll never see one again and think of my grandma,” explained one Reddit user.
One X user commented,“Hey @Klondikebar there are bad decisions, like getting a face tattoo or french kissing an alligator, then there are horrifically bad inexcusable decisions like discontinuing the Choco Taco.#sayitaintso #savethechocotaco”
Senator Chris Murphy jokingly tweeted that, “Tomorrow I am introducing legislation to invoke the Defense Production Act to mandate the continued manufacture of Choco Tacos. Please call your Senator and demand they co-sponsor.”
Alexis Ohanian, co-founder and former executive chairman of the social media site Reddit tweeted, “Dear @Unilever — I'd like to buy the rights to your Choco Taco and keep it from melting away from future generations' childhoods.”
According to an article in Fortune, Ohanian was “Very serious” about this offer. “The only people who’d think this is a joke are people who’ve never had a Choco Taco before,” Ohanian replied.However, Ohanion did not end up buying the Choco Taco from Klondike.
Despite many protests, Klondike continued through with the discontinuation of the Choco Taco:
Two years later, however, the Choco Taco might be making a comeback.
“Big news - the Choco Taco is coming back,” reported NPR. “Taco Bell and ice cream maker Salt and Straw are teaming up to bring back a version of the discontinued dessert taco this summer… The new treat will feature a waffle cone filled with cinnamon ancho chile ice cream dipped in chocolate and topped with toasted brown rice.”
“I know my dad is going to be really happy, I know that he is going to bring home a box the minute they come out, he’s going to come home and say, ‘Cece try one!’ I’m really excited because he’s going to be really happy. I can’t wait to see his face because it’s going to be really funny,” said Burger when hearing that the Choco Taco is coming back.
“I may have another child just so I can name it Choco Taco Burger,” Mr. Burger replied after learning that the Choco Taco was coming back.
Klondike says it's working up a plan to bring the original taco back, but that all good things take time.” Salt & Straw is an ice cream business based in Portland, Oregan (although they have shops in almost every state) and is known for their exotic flavors.
Although Klondike is still working on ways to bring the Choco Taco back, this new twist on the Choco Tacos should keep fans happy and satisfied…at least for a few more years.
“Big news - the Choco Taco is coming back,” reported NPR. “Taco Bell and ice cream maker Salt and Straw are teaming up to bring back a version of the discontinued dessert taco this summer… The new treat will feature a waffle cone filled with cinnamon ancho chile ice cream dipped in chocolate and topped with toasted brown rice.”
“I know my dad is going to be really happy, I know that he is going to bring home a box the minute they come out, he’s going to come home and say, ‘Cece try one!’ I’m really excited because he’s going to be really happy. I can’t wait to see his face because it’s going to be really funny,” said Burger when hearing that the Choco Taco is coming back.
“I may have another child just so I can name it Choco Taco Burger,” Mr. Burger replied after learning that the Choco Taco was coming back.
Klondike says it's working up a plan to bring the original taco back, but that all good things take time.” Salt & Straw is an ice cream business based in Portland, Oregan (although they have shops in almost every state) and is known for their exotic flavors.
Although Klondike is still working on ways to bring the Choco Taco back, this new twist on the Choco Tacos should keep fans happy and satisfied…at least for a few more years.
