Truffle: World’s Most Expensive Delicacy

Some gourmet dishes are made of hidden or fleeting treasures not many know of – such as the prized delicacy truffles. Discover more about them and why it’s the most expensive delicacy in the culinary world.

What is It?

Truffles are a type of fungi among the edible spores of the Tuberaceae (genus Tuber). They grow underground by attaching to the roots of the trees. Truffles give a distinct umami taste to food, giving it a unique smell and flavor. Chefs use a small number of toppings or ingredients in gourmet dishes to level up the taste of the food.

Truffle Mushroom Difference

Both truffles and mushrooms are edible fungi used as ingredients in many food and gourmet meals. However, they are different in many ways:

• Truffles grow underneath the surface attached to the roots of trees, whereas mushrooms grow on the surface and don’t require trees to grow or propagate.
• Mushrooms are soft and known for their long stems and capped tops. Truffles are firm, lacking the stem and cap, and look like porous black or white potatoes.

Types

There are many types of truffles existing out there. However, only a few varieties are appropriate as ingredients for culinary and gourmet cuisines. These truffles may be available in different seasons and uses, and they may have differences in their prices and availability in the truffle market worldwide.

1) Black Truffles

Scientifically named Tuber melanosporum, this is the most common type of truffle known worldwide. It’s also called the French Black, Black Gold, or Périgord. They grow around November to March, in peak after the Christmas season.

2) White Truffles

Whitish truffles (Tuber aestivum), also called the bianchetto, is known for having a garlic flavor best paired with vegetables and greens. They grow around mid-January until the end of April, peaking around springtime.

3) Black Summer Truffles

Black summer truffles (Tuber aestivum) is a summer seasonal variety available from May to August yearly. It goes best when served as toppings on pizza, pasta, and salads

4) Burgundy Truffles

The burgundy truffle (Tuber uncinatum) is named as such because of its reddish-black appearance on the outside. It’s an autumn seasonal truffle available from September through December. It’s best served on food with other ingredients like squash and pasta.

5) Italian White/Alba Truffles

Like burgundy truffles, this is also a seasonal truffle available in autumn. It grows from September through December and is used in many holiday and autumn dishes, eggs, and cream-based dishes. Compared to the other varieties, the Italian white truffle is the more expensive type known for having a more robust, more potent flavor than others.

How are They Produced?

Truffles are cultivated and harvested from underground in orchards dedicated to growing them. As mentioned, they grow under the soil surface by attaching themselves to the tree roots. They require growth in damp soil, and it can take as long as a decade before they are ready to harvest.

Traditionally, truffle farmers used female pigs to find truffles for harvest. Pigs have an excellent sense of smell, especially female pigs. They smell by finding the scent of androstenol in truffles, which is also found as a hormone in the saliva of male pigs. However, they’re now replaced by dogs in sniffing out for harvest, as dogs are less likely than pigs to eat the truffles.

Why are They Expensive?

Because of its tedious farming, truffles cultivation is not an easy feat. They are hard to source, as cultivation takes time and patience, together with science, and seasonal changes. Harvesting also requires a trained dog or female pig on the farm to sniff out the ripe truffles.

After harvest, they only have approximately 10 days of shelf life to retain their optimal flavor in the market. It must be transported quickly to the store or restaurant before it loses its potency as food ingredient. These factors make truffles the most expensive gourmet delicacy all around the world. Having them in your ingredients for use is a luxury for anyone who prepares dishes or food.

While they are generally at hefty high prices in the market, the numbers still depend on the variety and availability during the season. Italian white truffles, for example, are the priciest variety, selling for as high as $4,000 for every pound.

What Country is Famous for Them?

France is the major producer of truffles in the industry, exporting one-third of what’s gathered worldwide. Its farming and production is an important industry in the country, having several grounds all throughout France. The main farms are found in the south of France – at Périgord and the region of Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur. The French government has sustained farming by reforesting large barren areas by planting oak trees.

Truffles are more common in France and other European countries such as Italy. They hold truffle festivals to sell fresh truffles, which are perfect occasions for seekers to find the best straight from the source and farms. In North America, truffles are relatively rare.

Where Can I Get Them in the Philippines?

Nowadays, you no longer need to fly to Europe to get truffles for your kitchen seasonings or food cravings. Truffles and flavorings are found in menus of high-class restaurants and five-star cuisines. In the Philippines, truffles are also sold fresh in jars, as ready-to-eat snacks, or even as seasonings in oils, salts, and sauces.

Some of the stores online that sell truffles and truffle products and flavorings are Dough & Grocer and Urbani Truffles. These stores offer fresh, canned, and jar, including the Italian white variety, as well as oils and salts.

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