activated charcoal – Jellybeans in the City

What is it about BLK 513 that got me so hooked? Ever since I had my first taste of it during the grand opening of its Glorietta branch, I’ve been craving for it.

Is it the tart sweetness and rich creamy texture of the Greek yogurt enriched with activated charcoal?

Is it the melding of flavors and the contrast of textures from the inclusions in each Dark Skim Cup (Php189) or Dark Skim Cone (Php155 for chocolate cone and Php170 for Japanese Matcha Cone or Real Strawberry Cone)?

Is it the meticulous care that goes into the preparation of this treat, the careful layering of the crunchy element (yummy butter bars), two fruits (peaches and mango bits) and a rich sauce (Spice Cookie Caramel)?

Whatever it is, once I was done with my frozen treat, I was already counting the days until I can taste it again. I guess you could say I wouldn’t mind stepping into the dark side again and again if this heavenly dessert is waiting for me.

This BLK 513 branch is located at the Second Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 10pm).

Other branches are found at:

Second Floor, Glorietta 1, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City (open daily from 9am to 10pm)

Second Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)

Level 2, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)

Second Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)

Bonifacio High Street, 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 10.30am to 10.30pm)

Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm)

Food Street, Upper Ground Floor, SM Southmall, Almanza, Las Piñas City (open daily from 10am to 9pm)

Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 10pm)

Ground Level, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Balintawak, Quezon City (open daily 10am to 10pm)

Just when I thought that froyo is already old news, here comes BLK 513 with something that makes it more than the usual. BLK 513’s dark skim frozen yogurt is defined by two key ingredients: Greek yogurt and activated charcoal.

Greek yogurt is known to be thicker and creamier, contain half the carbohydrates but more protein than regular yogurt. It also provides 20% of one’s daily calcium requirement. It has a distinctly tangier and less sweet taste than regular yogurt as well.

Activated charcoal, on the other hand, is world’s oldest and most trusted detoxifying agent. It promotes healthy digestion and cleansing, reduces high cholesterol and contains anti-aging properties.

So basically, when treating yourself to BLK 513’s dark skim froyo, you’re also giving yourself a health boost.

Together with other foodies, I was invited to attend the grand opening of BLK 513’s newest branch in Glorietta 1.

Here, you have the option to have your froyo to-go or to enjoy it at leisure in the store’s seating area. It even has interesting modern decor that can serve as backdrops for your froyo foodie shots. 🙂

During the event, I sampled BLK 513’s Dark Skim Cup (Php189) with butter bars, mangoes and peaches, and its decadent new sauce: Gold Milk. Made from Valrhona Blond Chocolate, it has a rich buttery caramel flavor. It hardened over the frozen yogurt and cracks when bitten into, giving the dessert a nice blend of textures from the hardened sauce, the succulent fruit bits, the fudgy butter bars and the creamy froyo.

I was accompanied by my daughter #Exhibit A who got herself a dark skim froyo in a cup with brownie bits, strawberries and mangoes, and also drizzled with Gold Milk.

Later on, I stepped even more into the dark side by getting BLK 513’s Dark Skim Cone (Php150), this time in a dark chocolate cone, topped with brownie bits and drizzled with a dark chocolate sauce.

It certainly looks like froyo has been revitalized. And decadently dark times are ahead… 🙂

Aside from its frozen yogurt treats, BLK 513 also retails packed items such as:

Daily Nuts (Php325). Carefully mixed pecans, walnuts, peanuts, cashews, dried blueberries and raisins.
Handmade Valrhona Granola (Php450). Oats, almonds, sunflower seeds, cinnamon 23% dark chocolate and maple sauce
Matcha Macadamia Granola (Php350). Matcha green team, macadamia, Pepitas Natural Unrefined Sugar, maple sauce and white chocolate chips.
Raw Chocolate Truffles (Php330). Chocolate with peanut butter, matcha and coconut flavors.

https://flic.kr/p/2baHWgQ

This BLK 513 branch is located at Second Floor, Glorietta 1, Ayala Center, Glorietta Complex, Makati City, open daily from 9am to 10pm.

Other branches are found at:

Second Floor, Building A, SM Megamall, Ortigas, Mandaluyong City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
Level 2, S Maison, Conrad Manila, Seaside Boulevard Corner Coral Way, Mall of Asia Complex, Pasay City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
Second Floor, Main Building, SM City North EDSA, Bago Bantay, Quezon City (open daily from 10am to 10pm)
Bonifacio High Street, 7th Avenue, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City (open daily from 10.30am to 10.30pm)
Second Floor, Eastwood Mall, Libis, Quezon City (open daily from 11am to 10pm)
Food Street, Upper Ground Floor, SM Southmall, Almanza, Las Piñas City (open daily from 10am to 9pm)
Ground Floor, UP Town Center, Katipunan Avenue, Diliman, Quezon City (open Mondays to Thursdays from 11am to 9pm and Fridays to Sundays from 10am to 10pm)
Ground Level, Ayala Malls Cloverleaf, A. Bonifacio Avenue, Balintawak, Quezon City (open daily 10am to 10pm)

Disclosure: Together with other food bloggers, I was invited to attend a foodie meet-up held in this restaurant. All the food items mentioned here were served to allow us to sample the fare and were not paid for by the attendees, including myself.