Truffles

The mysterious, enigmatic truffle. Sorted by many, found by few.

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There are two main types: black and white. There are hundreds of varieties of truffle with the most expensive, Tuber magnatum, (a white variety) selling for a record £165,000 for 1.5kg (to a Macau business man!) This makes them one of the most expensive food stuffs ever! 

Although attempts have been made to cultivate truffles, the majority are still found growing wild around the roots of Oak, Hazel and Lime trees. Truffles are commonly sniffed out by pigs and dogs which have been trained to recognise their distinct smell. With regards to truffles and Italy, Truffles are found primarily in Piedmont, Tuscany, Umbria and Le Marche. During October and November there are many white truffle fairs held in these regions.

Yes, truffles are expensive but for special occasions, they are the perfect, extravagant flourish to add to any meal. Try adding truffle shavings to risottos, pasta dishes and scrambled eggs to make an ordinary meal extraordinary! Cheaper but still containing the distinctive truffle flavours is truffle oil and truffle honey which can be drizzled over dishes or used in salad dressing. 

If you do decide to take the plunge and buy fresh truffles, make sure you store them properly! Keep them in an air tight container in the fridge with a few pieces of kitchen roll to absorb excess moisture as this will cause premature rotting. Add a couple of eggs for sumptuous truffle eggs as egg shells are porous and will readily absorb the heady flavour.