What are Mushroom Truffles 

A mushroom truffle is the fruiting body of a subterranean ascomycete fungus, predominantly one of the many species of the genus Tuber. In addition to Tuber, many other genera of fungi are classified as truffles including Geopora, Peziza, mushroom truffle Choiromyces, Leucangium, and over a hundred others.  you ask your waiter, who’s just told you that your pasta dish will include them. He goes on to explain that truffles are a rare and delicious form of mushroom before bustling off to his other tables. When your pasta dish finally arrives, there’s no mistaking the shaved truffles on top of it, which deliver a pungent aroma and distinctly earthy taste. Should you have a well-developed palate, you’ll quickly fall in love with each exquisite flavour as it unravels in your mouth. mushroom truffle

Soon after, you’re looking for truffles everywhere you go, meaning restaurants and nearby forests alike. Prepare to be disappointed because finding truffles in Australia and pretty much anywhere else can be quite daunting unless you’re willing to pay extra for the privilege. While technically a mushroom, this elusive fungi is much harder to come by than your standard portobello or shiitake, to say the least.

Meanwhile, you still have questions. What is a black truffle? What is a white truffle? Are truffles the same thing as mushrooms or aren’t they? Is it true that truffles look like poop? Are they safe? Are they being hidden away from us in order to keep the prices high? Why do they taste so freaking good?!!!

First of all: take some deep breaths because you’re getting a little truffle crazy on us. Okay, now that you’ve calmed down a little, here’s everything you need to know about the mighty truffle. mushroom truffle

Are Truffles Mushrooms?

Because of its spore-bearing body, the truffle is basically considered a form of mushroom. However, there are some important differences between these two respective groups. Namely, truffles grow underground while mushrooms typically grow above ground. What’s more, edible truffles don’t taste much like any traditional mushroom, even if both share a certain tier of earthy flavour.

For the sake of simplicity, most folks consider truffles to be a form of mushroom because both truffles and mushrooms are fungi with fruiting bodies. The fruiting body, by the way, is the part of the fungus that reproduces spores. On a typical mushroom, for instance, the part that crops up is the actual mushroom (i.e. the fruiting body) while the stem that exists below ground is a fungus. mushroom truffle

truffle, edible subterranean fungus, prized as a food delicacy from Classical times. Truffles are in the genus Tuber, order Pezizales (phylum Ascomycota, kingdom Fungi). They are native mainly to temperate regions. The different species range in size from that of a pea to that of an orange.

A section of a young specimen shows a whitish homogeneous flesh that with age becomes a rich dark colour showing a lighter marbling. Truffles flourish in open woodland on calcareous soil. They are saprophytes, usually associated with the roots of trees, possibly in a mutually beneficial association (see mycorrhiza). The spores of Tuber are large; one to four may be seen in a spore sac, or ascus. (These, the first ascospores to be observed, were described by French botanist Joseph Pitton de Tournefort in 1701–11.) mushroom truffle

The most-valued truffle in French cuisine is the Périgord (Tuber melanosporum), which is said to have first gained favour toward the end of the 15th century. It is brown or black, rounded, and covered with polygonal wartlike protrusions, having a depression at their summit; the flesh (gleba) is first white, then brown or gray, and when mature becomes black with white veins having a brown margin. The odour is well marked and pleasant. The main French truffières (truffle grounds) are in the south, notably in Périgord and the région of Provence–Alpes–Côte d’Azur, though truffles are gathered throughout a large part of France

What Do Truffles Taste Like?

Black truffles give off a pungent aroma and usually taste better when cooked. The flavour is often described as being nutty, earthy, woody, mushroomy, and even a little chocolatey. mushroom truffle

White truffles are somewhat more subtle by comparison, though still completely discernible when added to any dish. They give off a musky aroma and deliver a taste that’s typically described as being lightly garlick

Health Benefits of Truffles

 

Truffles have been treasured for centuries, and today, these fungi are one of the most expensive foods you can buy. One pound of truffles can cost as much as $450.

Unlike mushrooms, which grow above the ground, truffles grow on tree roots 5 to 10 centimeters under the earth. It takes special skills and tools to figure out where they are and gently collect them. Sometimes people leave it to trained dogs and pigs to sniff them out. mushroom truffle

Truffles look very different from mushrooms. They don’t have stalks or gills. Instead, they’re round, firm, covered in warts, and vary in size. Some are as small as walnuts, while others are as large as a fist. mushroom truffle

Over 100 different types of truffles grow all over the world, but you’ll find one of only 10 kinds in your food. Among the most common are “white truffles,” a very smelly Italian truffle, and “black truffles” from France.

Each truffle has its own distinct flavor, depending on the weather during its growth, the type of tree roots it grows on, and the bacteria inside it. In general, though, you can expect a strong, earthy taste (and smell) that’s more like a perfume than a spice. mushroom truffle

Nutritional Value

The serving size for truffles is small. One serving is 0.5 grams, which is just 1/10 of a teaspoon.

One serving of a black truffle that’s been preserved in water and salt contains:

The exact nutrients in truffles will depend on which kind you eat, but they’re all a rich source of amino acids and minerals, including:

Truffles are also full of natural compounds that protect you from “free radicals” — toxins that can damage your cells. mushroom truffle

Health Benefits

In Africa and the Middle East, people use truffles as medicine for skin and eye conditions. But it’s unclear how well they work.

Some studies that tested a very strong truffle extract show that it may:

Keep in mind, the amount of truffles you eat is much smaller, so it’s unlikely to have that kind of impact.mushroom truffle

 

Risks

An allergy to truffles is very rare. It’s important, though, to only eat a fresh truffle that comes from a known and trusted source, like someone who hunts truffles for a living. Some poisonous mushrooms can be confused with truffles. Only an expert can tell them apart. mushroom truffle

What is truffle hunting 

In practice, this means first coating an item in truffle oil and having the dog find it. Then the item is buried under leaves, then rocks, and then actual soil. Eventually an actual ripe truffle is introduced. Et voila: You have a truffle-hunting dog

Top 5 places to Hunt for Truffles

The majority of truffles can be found in Italy, France and the Pacific Northwest. Truffles grown in Italy and France tend to be the rarest kind of truffle and therefore the most expensive.

 

  1. Villefranche-du-Perigord. France is home to the world’s most famous black truffles, also known as Diamonds of Perigord. The reason? The truffles found here are huge, with one truffle weighing a remarkable 1.3 kg.
  2. Alba, Italy is often referred to as the white truffle capital of the world, as truffles grow naturally in this Northern Italy location. An annual truffle fair is held here, which lasts for about six weeks and is the oldest truffle celebration in the entire world.
  3. Pacific Northwest truffles are often found growing under Douglas fir trees, from Northern California all the way to Southern Washington. (The fact that most truffles are found in Oregon is why people refer to truffles found in the Pacific Northwest as Oregon truffles.)
  4. Manjumup, Australia is the largest grower of Perigord Truffles in the southern hemisphere due to the rich fertile soils and the cool climate found here. Truffle season in Australia runs from June to September, and it all starts with a special celebration held in Manjimup.
  5. The south coast of the United Kingdom offers lots of truffle hunting opportunities due to the many forests found here that support the growing of truffles. Top forestry choices include Hertfordshire, Gloucestershire and Cornwall