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Jarling's Custard Cup »
Address: 309 W. Kirby Ave. Champaign, IL 61820
Phone: (217) 352-2273
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It’s time for the ice cream fiends of CU to rejoice because Custard Cup reopened March 6.

Sarah Allen, manager at Jarling’s Custard Cup, said business has been “crazy busy,” thanks to “tremendously awesome weather.” Last Sunday, there were lines stretching outside the building for much of the day, Allen said.

The snowstorm is one of the most popular items ordered at Custard Cup, Allen said, as well as the cold fudge sundae — a Custard Cup specialty. Despite the name, there are actually no eggs used in any Custard Cup product. Everything is 93 percent fat free, and contains less butterfat than ice cream.

“Our name is grandfather ‘in’,” Allen said. “It’s really more like a premium ice cream.”

Customers looking to branch out from their usual order can try the custard sandwiches, Allen said. Any of the five Custard Cup flavors (vanilla, chocolate, lemon, orange and strawberry) are available to be sandwiched between chocolate wafer cookies. The phosphates, a creamy, carbonated water drink, are another unique treat. A chocolate phosphate, for example, contains chocolate syrup and vanilla flavoring stirred together and added to the carbonated water.

UIUC Senior Kurt Werner usually visits the Custard Cup only once a year, but he recalled a caramel turtle-flavored treat as being his favorite item on the menu.

This is the 26th year that Jarling’s Custard Cup has been in business. With Hessel Park within walking distance and The Weather Channel predicting temperatures above 50 degrees for the coming weeks, CU has a reason to celebrate the reopening of Jarling’s Custard Cup.