Klondike Has Discontinued The Choco Taco. Here's What To Know

Are there more types of tacos than there are stars in the night sky? It's possible; just think of all the different ways you can combine tortillas, meats, vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts, sauces, cheeses, and more. Taste Atlas offers up a list of the 22 most popular kinds of tacos, but even that just scratches the surface. There are Middle Eastern-inspired tacos arabes, stewed tacos de lengua, rich tacos gobernador, and austere tacos al carbon.

But these are all savory applications. In the field of dessert tacos, there are quite a few entrants. Just take a look at Delish's roundup of creative offerings. As sweet as they sound, there is one dessert taco that has long reigned supreme, a staple of summer barbecues, poolside snack times, and a favorite of kids chasing the dulcet tones of the ice cream truck down their street.

The Choco Taco, a heady mixture of light vanilla ice cream in a waffle cone "tortilla" topped with a crunchy chocolate shell and peanuts, has been around since the 1980s, says Eater. But, as beloved as it is, there's some bad news for fans of the "taco."

As reported by CNN, Klondike, maker of the original Choco Taco, has decided to discontinue production after nearly 40 years. According to a company spokesperson, the decision was not arrived at lightly, but increased demand for other items they produce has necessitated a streamlining of their product offerings.

In his Eater article, Jason Cohen reports on a serendipitous meeting he had with Alan Drazen, inventor of the Choco Taco, while waiting in line for food in Philadelphia. Drazen, a former Good Humor ice cream truck driver, was working in management for Jack & Jill, a Philly ice cream purveyor. It was 1983 and Mexican food was growing in popularity in the U.S.; around the same time, he realized Jack & Jill didn't have a unique novelty offering. And thus, the Choco Taco was born.

For fans of the Choco Taco who are in a state of shock, don't lose all hope. First, the Choco Taco may live again, as Reddit founder Alex Ohanian has made an overture via Twitter to Unilever — owner of Klondike — to purchase the rights to the product in an effort to preserve its sweetness for generations to come. Second, if you're a little handy in the kitchen, we've got a recipe for a homemade riff on the Choco Taco that is sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.