By October, white truffle season has begun in Piedmont, Northern Italy, and the hunt begins, with only a few short months for the “Diamonds of the Kitchen” to be discovered before the new year.
Tuber magnatum is one of the most sought-after species of white truffle available, often considered to be superior in taste to its darker cousins by the communities whohave traditionally harvested them. If you’ve been considering trying white truffles this year, there’s no doubt that now is the best and most opportune time to indulge.
The white truffle is easily distinguished by its distinct cream to light-brown, suede exterior, which darkens as it matures. It also features a marbled interior, rippled with white veins.
Conversely, when people attempt to describe the taste of white truffles to new-comers, the description can be vague and ambiguous. Musky, earthy, sweet and aromatic are all words heard commonly, but do very little to describe the rich, satisfying, umami tastes the truffle delivers – there really is no substitute to trying them for yourself.
While pigs have been traditionally used for the hunt, in recent years they have been less favoured in Italy, with dogs taking over. Dogs are far less possessive of the truffles they discover and are thought to do less damage to surrounding land. Both dogs and pigs were believed to detect the truffles, lying hidden by roots of trees, by smelling a chemical called 5α-Androstenol; a neurosteroid and pheromone in many mammals. However more recently, mycological study has shown that the animals are more likely attracted to a chemical called Dimethyl sulphide, which is more commonly found in beers, as a major contributor to their crisp taste.
A truffle cannot draw energy from the sun using photosynthesis like a plant. In fact, a truffle grows in mycorhizienne symbiosis with a host tree, which provides it with what it needs to survive and grow. However, this growth can take a very long time, and is difficult to replicate agriculturally.
This is one of the reasons the white truffle is so rare and sought-after. For those who want to enjoy the full taste of fresh truffles, we offer a full selection of the finest truffles available seasonally. Our Alba white truffles are freshly imported from Italy twice weekly to connect our customers with the best possible produce.
Fresh truffles taste best when used within 5 days of harvest. However, for those look for something which can be used more sparingly, truffle oil can last for as long as 8 months. We offer a selection of oils and truffle butter for you to discover and savour.
If you have any other questions about white truffles, please don’t hesitate to contact us today, and our expert staff will be only too happy to help with any queries you might have about this delicacy.
