Philly water ice from Knoxville's Water Ice ‘n Thangz can't be described, you have to try it
Angel and Rahim Smith were born and raised in Philadelphia, but after moving to Knoxville 11 years ago they missed Philly water ice.
So, what exactly is it and what makes it so crave-worthy?
“We always say it’s like shaved ice, ice cream and sherbet had a baby; it’s a different texture,” said Angel Smith. “It is creamier than Italian ice, so when people see it they ask if it is ice cream. It’s not. The only way I can describe it is that you have to come and taste it, and we haven’t met anyone yet who didn’t like it.”
The Smiths, along with Philadelphia-based business partner Thomas Magwood Jr., knew they had to bring their cool treat to Knoxville and launched Water Ice ‘n Thangz last September.
The ‘Thangz’ in the name refers to another Philly favorite – pizza pretzels. The pretzels are shipped in from Philadelphia and served plain, topped with cheese or covered in pizza sauce, cheese and pork or turkey pepperoni.
“When it melts it tastes amazing,” added Smith.
The venture started out in their home, and then the couple rolled out a mobile cart to sell eight flavors of water ice off their extensive menu.
“We went out to some empty property in Cedar Bluff and were out there every day, catching the eye of the families going to the elementary, preschool and middle schools,” said Smith. “When the property was sold, we started doing deliveries and parties.”
That is how the couple met Najam ‘Jam’ Uddin, who opened CAMPS Chicken in Seymour, a charcoal grilled chicken restaurant, in August 2021. “He was a customer and it went from there,” said Smith, about setting up inside CAMPS in early May to sell their water ice.
A good friend of Rahim’s in Philadelphia shared the recipe for Water Ice ‘n Thangz, and whatever the Smiths don’t make in Knoxville he supplies. “He is the reason we got where we are at,” said Smith.
The mobile cart is limited to selling eight flavors; at CAMPS there is a choice of up to 20.
Recently, Water Ice ‘n Thangz set up in the Old City and gave away almost 150 water ice scoops to the homeless.
“We do big events. We served 250 kids at a school,” said Smith. Water Ice ‘n Thangz can bring their mobile cart to the event and scoop up to six flavors for a $50-an-hour fee.
“We can also prepackage 50-200 water ices,” said Smith. Customers pick up eight flavors, then either collect the filled cooler at CAMPS or have it delivered for a fee. The coolers stay cold for 6-7 hours.
Just a few of the flavors are mango, blueberry, cotton candy, strawberry lemonade, pineapple, Swedish fish, sour green apple, and watermelon.
“We keep a mystery flavor all of the time; it’s so fun to have people try to guess the flavor,” said Smith. “Then we have a flavor of the week and try to make it fun. Our signature mix is the Incredible Hulk, Starburst and Spider-Man.”
Starburst was inspired by a customer who mixed cherry, blueberry and lemon.
Water ice is served in kids’ size, small to extra-large and is dairy free, nut free, and gluten free.
“We have been at CAMPS Chicken for a month now and it has been a blessing. We were so grateful to be presented with this opportunity,” said Smith. “We wanted to be in a store. We have great things we are planning on doing in the future and we want to add on food. We are trying to build a relationship with the South Knoxville side.”
Generally speaking, Water Ice ‘n Thangz is open noon-8 p.m. Monday-Saturday depending on what private events they have booked.
Water Ice ‘n Thangz is at CAMPS Chicken, 7201 Chapman Highway, and accepts party bookings via 865-591-7227.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Water Ice n Thangz hits Knoxville with Cold treats from Philly
