You have in all probability heard about truffles, both the fungi and the chocolate treat. But let’s center on truffles as a mushroom. Aside from being costly, what else do we know about them? Truffles are considered rare and a delicacy in some countries.

Truffles are hypogeous mushrooms, meaning, they need to be dug out. But it’s not the entire mushroom or fungi, the truffle is just the fruit. The body of the fungi is the hyphae located in the soil. It is thought that the grounds why truffle mushrooms grow belowground is to protect themselves from forest fires and during extreme temperatures during frosty periods.

Truffles can be located in countries like France, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, some parts in the Middle East and North Africa. They can also be grown and located in US, particularly in Oregon and Washington. They can be located under the roots of oak, elm, chestnut, pine and willow trees. There are just few trees that are not linked to truffle growth, like maple and cedar trees.

If they are underground, how would you find these treasures? Truffles, when they mature, would develop a powerful scent which may be noticed by animals. When searching for truffles, small animal diggings around the tree roots would be a good indication that truffles are likely nearby.

The scent may even attract animals bigger than the squirrel, like pigs and dogs. In the past, female pigs are used in Europe to look for truffles. It is as that these mushroom finds is said to mimic the scent of a male pig sex hormone. Currently, there are dogs which undergo training for truffle hunting. The season for truffle hunting usually lasts from fall to spring. Read the rest of this entry »

Truffles are one of the most prized and expensive natural gourmet items. White truffles usually cost about $1000 to $2000 for a pound, while black truffles cost $300 to $600 for a pound. In 2007, a 3.3 pound white truffle was bought by billionaire Stanley Ho for $330,000. In 1999, a 2.86 white truffle was sold for $212,000.

Why is it so costly? Because they are very hard to find. Since they’re grow underground and among roots of trees, truffle hunters would ordinarily have an assistance of a pig or a truffle-sniffing-dog to find these below-ground mushrooms. The time to look and gather truffles is very intensive. Truffles are likewise low in abundance.

These days, in a trial to meet the need for truffles, there are a few U.S citizens who are growing black truffles commercially. An example would be a truffle company in North Carolina, the Garland’s Gourmet Mushrooms and Truffles who have been in the truffle business since 1990s.

Although, most truffles maybe found in the wild, history showed that they were cultivated during 1800s in France. All the same, the First World War caused serious damage on the truffle cultivation. Apart from the United States, Australia and New Zealand are likewise cultivating truffles.

If you are preparing to cultivate truffles, then there are a few things that you would need to consider.

* Host plants – There are truffle businesses, like the Garland, that do not only buy gourmet mushrooms and truffles, but they also sell inoculated trees to serve as host plants or trees for the mushrooms. They usually sell oaks and hazelnut trees which are inoculated with Black Perigord or Black Burgundy truffle, or whatever variety will be grown.

How are the trees vaccinated? The tree seedlings are dipped in mycorrhizal fungi slurry. Given the right conditions and care, the truffles might be harvested in about six to ten years. It is nearly out of the question to grow truffles in a greenhouse. Trees are very essential on its growth.

* Soil – Apart from the trees, it is also important to prepare the soil where the trees would be planted. It has been tested the Mid-Atlantic States have reliable soil types for truffle growth. There are occasions when the solid has to be amended with lime to adjust its alkaline level. Read the rest of this entry »