A Visit to Arethusa Farm Dairy: Exceptional Cows Make Exceptional Ice Cream

Photo: Arethusa

Back in April my colleagues from CTBites visited Arethusa Farms to perform a “meet & greet” with 300 cows that comprise the foundation to the Arethusa dairy products. These world renown Holsteins and Jerseys produce some of the best milk, and by extension the ice cream that is sold in the Arethusa Farm Dairy store is world class. More recently, they visited Arethusa Al Tavolo and enjoyed numerous dishes prepared with numerous of the farm’s ingredients, including the cows’ milk. The team was not able to visit the ice cream storefront on either visit as the line was staggering, so it fell heavy on my shoulders (insert smile) that I took one for the team and lazily drove to Arethusa Farm Dairy one Sunday afternoon. 

I always considered Arethusa as the third leg of the CT Ultimate Ice Cream Triangle, with Ferris Acres and Rich’s Dairy the other two legs. Driving through the country to all three is relaxing and enjoyable, winding roads, bucolic scenery and the anticipation of great ice cream. While the approach to Ferris Acres and Rich’s involves finding the somewhat hidden driveway marked by a multi-colored home-made painted sign, then sneaking by the cows with everyone in the car pointing, staring and saying “mooooo” (c’mon you know I am telling the truth), negotiating the dirt parking lots and approaching the barn-like structure with teenagers sliding open windows to ask for your order, Arethusa sits on a street corner in Bantam, a small village in Litchfield County, with parking on the street or in two small lots behind the building. While Rich’s menu includes 25 regular flavors, plus specials and Ferris Acres 31 regular, plus specials, Arethusa offers roughly a dozen choices. 

Photo: Arethusa

The line at Arethusa flows down the side of the building and as you slowly work your way to the front, the flavors for the day are handwritten on a chalkboard just outside the front door. On the day we visited, the options ranged from the traditional vanilla and chocolate to a more adventurous coconut with dark chocolate chunks and pumpkin. Your choice of 1-3 scoops, with each scoop equal to 2 “balls,” can be served in a cup, waffle or cake cone. They warn that the 3-scooper equals a pint of ice cream. 

When I entered, I was a little surprised by the size of the ice cream chest…it was much smaller than I expected, probably 8-10 feet long, but given the number of flavors this was all that was needed. I ordered 1 scoop, with 2 balls, and I chose the coffee and the chocolate-chocolate-chunk. The serving was two nice “balls,” more than enough for an afternoon delight. While waiting to pay, I noticed an enormous refrigerator that covered the entire side wall from front to back. It was stocked with cheeses and prepared foods, the cheeses looked outstanding. We ventured back to the car with our treats to enjoy.

Let’s start with the density of the Arethusa ice cream. It is as dense as physically possible. While many store-bought brands are pumped with air, the Arethusa method extracts every molecule of air out of the scoop. In addition, it was a perfect 10 on smoothness, it was a bite of pure frozen luxury. The scoop of coffee was my first bite. Please serve this in a cup every morning. It was rich on flavor, pure coffee. It was fantastic. Just when I thought I had reached the epitome of texture-flavor I sampled the chocolate chocolate chunk. This was about as rich a chocolate ice cream as I have ever tasted, pure decadence and the elevated that experience with some great chocolate chunks. The combination of these two chocolates was spectacular. The following is the tough part to write for an ice cream lover. It was so dense and rich, finishing the 1-scoop size was more difficult than expected. My hat goes off to anyone that can finish a 2-scoop or 3-scoop size.

As we drove home, my wife and I discussed the overarching question. Which did we prefer…Arethusa, Ferris Acres or Rich’s? Needless to say, this is splitting hairs at the top of the ice cream food chain... all three are spectacular. The major difference is the richness. While I could easily eat several scoops, maybe even a pint, of Rich’s or Ferris Acres, it was difficult to finish a 1-scoop (2 balls) portion of Arethusa…it is that rich and dense. 

So the answer is…Arethusa’s ice cream is unbelievably fantastic, its dense, rich flavors are second to none and deserves each and every accolades that it receives for its ultimate frozen delicacy.

Arethusa Locations

Bantam: 822 Bantam Rd. Bantam, CT 06750

New Haven: 1020 Chapel St. New Haven, CT 06510

West Hartford: 975 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06107