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Top 6 Ice Cream Stands in Connecticut

If you’re a genius like myself, then you love ice cream. I mean love it so much you want to marry it.  Am I taking it too far? Whatever, I love ice cream.  And when I do marry someone, ice cream will be present in some way, shape, or form at my wedding and on my honeymoon.  Come on.  It’s amazing.  It’s creamy, rich, refreshing, and if you know where to look, you can find the people who have really perfected the craft (and also brought incredible new flavors to the table).

As a result of growing up in Connecticut and having since left the state many times to test the waters of the world, I love coming up with new elements to brag about that are in my home state.  One of them is farm fresh ice cream.  It’s a thing–Connecticut’s thing to be exact–and it’s wonderful.  Now, this summer I visited a lot of ice cream stands and stores for the sake of “Research” just so that I could create a list of “the best” just for you. Here it is… the best ice cream stands in Connecticut!

1. Salem Valley Farms Ice Cream (Salem, Connecticut)

Prepare to be at a loss of which flavor you should order because Salem Valley Farms has up to 80 flavors made on the premises in the summer time!  Creamy, delicious, and flavorful.  They get extra points for having vegan and dairy free options too. [I ordered: S’mores in a waffle cone]

CT Ice Cream Salem Valley Farms

 

2. Grass Roots Ice Cream (Granby, Connecticut)

Granby’s best kept secret is slowing spreading its roots and reaching the ears and bellies of the rest of the state.  Grass Roots Ice Cream is local and fresh with absolutely no artificial ingredients.  The toppings are organic and new flavor concepts keep everyone on their toes.  [I ordered: Cannoli ice cream in a chocolate-dipped waffle cone]

Grass Roots Ice Cream

3. Tulmeadow Farm Store (West Simsbury, Connecticut)

If a scenic drive through the country isn’t enough to make visiting Tulmeadow Farm Store worth it, then the incredibly creamy ice cream should be.  50+ flavors made with “rich butterfat gourmet ice cream” that’s so good, Whole Foods buys it.  Order a cone from the window, sit on a hay stack and just kick back in rural Connecticut. [I ordered: Cookies and Cream in a waffle cone]

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4. UConn Dairy Bar (Storrs, Connecticut)

UConn students and the rest of Connecticut have been visiting the UConn Dairy Bar forever.  Why?  Because it’s so gosh darn incredible.  The ice cream is made fresh from the UConn cows’ milk right to your ice cream cone. [I always order: Oreo, salted caramel crunch, or coffee espresso–it’s impossible to choose!!] (photo)

uconn-dairy-bar

5. Arethusa Dairy Farm (Bantam, Connecticut)

In addition to driving through what is arguably the most beautiful region of the state of Connecticut, Arethusa Dairy Farm is proud to serve farm fresh ice cream right from its cows.  The benches out front welcome you to sit down with a few scoops, tilt your smile to the sun, and enjoy. [I ordered: Chocolate with dark chocolate chunks in a waffle cone]

ct-ice-cream-arethusa

6. Dzen Garden Market (Ellington, Connecticut)

Have you ever been to a place that offers 24 flavors of soft served ice cream? Hell, have you ever been to one that offers more than 3?  I always thought soft-served only came in two flavors: vanilla and chocolate (lately in trendy metropolitan areas I’ve been seeing Matcha flavor)… but behold, Dzen’s has so many flavors to choose from that I kept the lady waiting for a lifetime while I decided. [I ordered: Cheesecake soft-served]

ct-ice-cream-dzen-garden-market

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Tara Higgins

Tara Higgins

Tara loves all things London and wants to spend the rest of her life reading books in beautiful places. She can often be found nestled up in a bookshop, drinking a pint at the pub, or searching for the best pizza slice in town.

7 Comments

  • Arielle

    I need to go to all of these places. They all look amazing!

    September 27, 2016 at 10:39 AM
  • Ally

    Oh god! This is both my heaven and my lactose-intolerance induced hell. Love it! (Hate it!)

    September 29, 2016 at 11:44 AM
    • Tara Higgins
      Tara Higgins

      Just bite the bullet and enjoy a niceeeee waffle cone.

      October 1, 2016 at 5:19 AM
  • Sam Stack

    Rich’s Ice Cream in Oxford CT >>>>> All of these

    September 29, 2016 at 5:56 PM

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