iHalo Krunch - Black Ice Cream and Cones

Extra Extra! Read all about it! Charcoal infused ice cream is the SH*T!

So the day is winding down. We've been walking all day, hitting all these popping spots on Queen Street West and we've worked up an appetite for some sweetness (specifically some ice cream because it's 5 minutes to 8:30 and it's about 77 degrees outside).

Candice used her cat-eye and spotted this little whole in the wall spot across the street from our path, sized it up within seconds and grabbed my hand and said "ice cream let's go!" We bounced in the door of iHalo Krunch (pronounced e-ha-loh - I had no idea what that meant at the time) right at closing time and there was a short line inside and very sparce decor (just a couple plants, white walls, less this swirlly painting, and an illuminated menu affixed on the all behind the counter). I look into the glass that held what I thought was all of the ice cream and it seemed like we missed the boat (there was literally no "ice cream" in the there!). We looked up at the menu and it was pretty basic with 6 flavors and one price, $6.50. Seemed like a no frills spot.

I looked below the menu to find all of these black cones sitting in a plastic stand and then looked to the left and noticed there were a couple of soft serve machines. OK, I see what's happening here.  The flavors were Ube Haze, Black on Black, Ube Nut, Bean There Done That, Meet Your Matcha, and Matcha Bean. None of those names tickled my fancy. At that moment, I decided to pass but as they handed Candice her Black on Black on top with Bean There Done That on the bottom, my eyes got hungry. It looked so yummy and unique. It was black soft serve in a black cone for goodness sake! I was like I need to have this. Then Candice took a bit and literally melted a little. She was like "OMG this is so good! You have to try it!" That Black on Black flavor was activated charcoal infused coconut ice cream - didn't sound appealing but once I had a lick, I (clap) WAS (clap) SOLD (clap)! Y'all! 

Bean There Done That on bottom of both with (L) on Black  and (R) Ube Haze on top.

It exceeded my expectations. It wasn't coconut-y at all (as coconut is on the bottom of my list as favorite flavors). It was creamy, rich and subtly flavored but also very dense and filling. I decided to go for the Ube Haze (cute name for the ube which is the infamous Filipino purple yam) and the Bean There Done That (Madagascar vanilla bean) all plopped inside of the black cone (which is a normal waffle with some added charcoal to give it the black color). They stuff each one with a bit of marshmallow fluff in the bottom to help stop the melty soft-serve from leaking out of the bottom (real smart idea and it leaves you with an extra treat at the tail end of the experience).

When I had my first swipe of that delicious Ube Haze I thinking a melted a little too. Boy, was it tasty! Candice and I walked out of the store as one of the last customers of the night, as they locked the door behind us, feeling like we won the ice cream lottery! We skipped our happy asses all the way home. It was a great way to end our last night in Toronto. I can't wait to go back but in the meantime I'm on the hunt in NYC for ube and charcoal infused coconut ice cream.

The other flavors were Matcha Bean which is a vanilla matcha twist, and Ube Nut which combines ube and coconut flavors. If you are in Toronto, put this Asian culture inspired artisanal ice cream spot on your list as a must taste! 

Have you been to iHalo Krunch? Have you tried Ube or Charcoal Ice Cream? Did you love it? Tell me more...

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