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.
Looking for truffles would require patience, as it is attainable that all you might find would be clogs of dirt. Truffles are ordinarily in a size of a walnut to a potato or apple. The world’s biggest truffle was located in Italy on 2007, weighing 3.3 pounds. It was bought by billionaire Stanley Ho, when the truffle was put up for an auction in Macau. It was sold for a staggering $330,000.
There are different varieties and may look different based of their kind. So be accustomed with the different kinds of truffles. There are a few mushrooms which might look like truffles but are actually poisonous. So be cautious, particularly when you aren’t actually that knowledgeable about mushrooms. Before you eat a mushroom you have unearthed somewhere, consult a professional first if it is indeed safe to eat.
Here are a few varieties of truffles which are a whole lot popular:
- Oregon white truffle – this truffle is firm and may even be brittle. It is white when growing up and would develop an orange-brown color as it matures.
- Oregon brown truffle- it is reddish-brown on the exterior, and kind of grey in the inside.
- Oregon black truffle – it is very dark and would have a pungent smell when mature/ripe.
- Perigord truffle- also called French black truffle that is located in Spain, Australia and US. Its color is blue-black on the exterior and would eventually go to brown-black as it ages.
- Piedmont truffle – the Italian white which is light-colored and brittle. It would be beige in color and would become dark-brown as it matures.
- Summer truffle- located in France, Italy and Spain. It is black outside and off-white internally.
- Tuscan truffle- its color is usually chocolate brown and white.
Including truffles to your menu will surely impress family, friends and even improve your cooking skills. They may be rare and costly to use frequently, but the culinary experience would definitely be worthwhile.
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