The Fungi Called Truffles

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

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

Truffles can be found in countries like France, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, some parts in the Middle East and North Africa. They can also be grown and found in United States, particularly in Oregon and Washington. They can be found under the roots of oak, elm, chestnut, pine and willow trees. There are just few trees which are not associated 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 strong scent which can be detected by animals. When looking for truffles, small animal diggings around the tree roots would be a good indication that truffles are probably nearby.

The scent could 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 because 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, since it is possible that all you may find would be clogs of dirt. Truffles are usually in a size of a walnut to a potato or apple. The world’s biggest truffle was found 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 familiar with the different kinds of truffles. There are some mushrooms which may look like truffles but are actually poisonous. So be cautious, especially if you are not really that familiar with mushrooms. Before you eat a mushroom you have unearthed somewhere, consult an expert first if it is indeed safe to eat.

Here are some varieties of truffles which are very much popular:

• Oregon white truffle – this truffle is firm and could even be brittle. It is white when still young and would develop an orange-brown color as it matures.

• Oregon brown truffle- it is reddish-brown on the outside, and sort 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 which is found in Spain, Australia and United States. Its color is blue-black on the outside and would eventually turn 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 turn to dark-brown as it matures.

• Summer truffle- found in France, Italy and Spain. It is black outside and off-white on the inside.

• Tuscan truffle- its color is usually chocolate brown and white.

Including truffles to your menu will surely impress family, friends and even boost your cooking skills. They may be hard to find and expensive to use frequently, but the culinary experience would definitely be worth it.