I have posted some truffle and truffle hunting information on our website as a beginners guide to truffle hunting (a section of which I reproduce below). The intention is to add to it over time...
What is a truffle?
Truffles (or tartufi
in Italian) are a kind of fungus, related to mushrooms, which grow
underground among the roots of trees. Truffles live in a symbiotic
partnership with the host trees. In exchange for nutrients provided by
the truffle the tree provides food in the form of carbohydrates for the
truffle. There are many different types of truffle but the most
sought-after are the Tuber magnatum (the precious white truffle) and Tuber melanosporum (the precious black truffle) which are found mainly in Italy and France.
What kind of truffles can be found in Umbria?
Around Spoleto the main kind of truffle is the precious black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) known as the Perigord black truffle but which is also known in Italy as the Tartufo di Spoleto or Tartufo di Norcia. The other main edible truffles are the black summer truffle also known as the scorzone (Tuber aestivum) and its close cousin the uncinato (Tuber uncinatum). A less precious kind of white truffle called bianchetto (Tuber borchii) can also be found.
How are truffles found?
In order for its spores to be scattered truffles rely on being eaten by
animals. In order to attract animals they have a particular smell that
appeals not only to wild animals but also to chefs and gourmets. The
distinctive aroma can also be detected by trained dogs who show their
master to the spot where the ripe truffle is to be found. Truffle
hunting pigs were used traditionally as they have a natural fondness
for truffles and so do not need as much training but it is actually
very rare for pigs to be used any more. As well as being harder to
transport and less mobile then dogs pigs are also more likely to eat
the truffles they find whereas dogs are happy with a piece of biscuit
in exchange for their find.
Are there other ways to find truffles?
Digging holes randomly where truffles have been found previously may
turn up some truffles but is ultimately counter-productive as it
damages the root system of the tree and so reduces the future yield of
truffles. While humans can only smell the distinctive truffle smell
from up close there are sometimes other indications that can hint at
the presence of black truffles such as "burnt ground" or brulee
around the tree where the truffle has suppressed weeds and competition
from other plants around the tree roots. A small mound made by an
expanding truffle can also sometimes be detected by an experienced
truffle hunter. It is even possible, with the aid of a long stick to
disturb the forest floor and a keen eye, to detect truffles by looking
out for a special kind of fly that lands on or hovers near areas where
there are ripe truffles.
Comments