Why are white truffles so rare?

That's because white truffles lack an outer shell, leaving them exposed to the elements. Truffles are rare, in part, because they are nearly impossible to cultivate (recreating the necessary growing conditions is both difficult and costly and it can take years to yield truffles and decades to turn a profit).

What is so special about white truffles?

The white truffle is pungent and unforgettable, a mixture of mineral and animal secretion with woodsy notes. The white truffle must awaken something primal in those who eat it, because its adherents are many, and they are passionate.

How rare is a white truffle?

Truffles are rare. The white ones are only available a couple of months of the year, almost exclusively from one part of Italy, where they must be foraged by special pigs, and there are fewer of them, and of lesser quality, every year.

Are white truffles more rare than black?

And of those, there are two that dominate the conversation: black truffles and white truffles. Both types are native to Europe. White truffles (Tuber magnatum) are the more rare and expensive type, and primarily come from the Piedmont and Tuscany regions of Italy in the northwest and central parts of the country.

Why can't white truffles grow?

Truffles only grow on certain types of trees, including oak, hazel, poplar, beech and pine. The challenge in growing significant quantities of truffles is that you need to grow both the tree and the fungus—and you need them to cooperate with each other while a whole zoo of other microbes lurks in the soil.

Why Real Truffles Are So Expensive | So Expensive

Can I grow truffles in my garden?

"The first crop of truffles will come between four and seven years after planting, but thereafter it will keep cropping for 25 years. "Truffles are usually seen as something for the wealthy but now you really can grow them in your back garden.

What is the biggest truffle ever found?

The largest truffle is a Tuber magnatum pico that weighed in at 1,786 g (62.99 oz) on 4 December 2014, down from a reported 1,890 g (66.66 oz), owing to evaporation, when it was found a week earlier in central Italy.

How much is a white truffle worth?

“Right now, white truffle prices are around $4,500 a pound,” says Vittorio Giordano, vice president of Urbani Truffles USA, who's sourcing his white truffles mostly from Italy. “In 2019 they were $1,100 to $1,200 a pound.”

Where do white truffles grow?

White truffle season is from September to December when they grow wild in the forests around Alba, a small Piemontese township. In particular, they grow deep in the forests of Langhe, a fertile area in Piemonte perfectly situated between the Tanaro and Po Rivers and the Alps and Apennine mountain ranges.

What do white truffles taste like?

Like many other mushroom varietals, white truffles tend to taste earthy and musky, but there's a warming garlic essence and a funky flavor in white truffles that people adore.

Is white truffle stronger than black truffle?

The flavor and aroma of black truffles is stronger and more earthy than the more delicate flavor of white truffles.

Do truffles grow in pig poop?

Are truffles poop? Truffles are not poop, though black truffles do bear a resemblance. Furthermore, truffles are not grown on poop. That said, truffles can proliferate when animals eat them and then poop out the reproductive spores.

Is white truffle better than black?

White truffles are more fragrant and flavorful. In fact, they're so aromatic that they're almost always shaved raw on top of dishes, a scene that will soon play out in high-end restaurants all over the world. On the other hand, some light cooking can help coax the maximum flavor out of black truffles.

Are white truffles healthy?

High in Antioxidants

Because of their antioxidant content, test-tube studies show that both black and white truffles may even help kill cancer cells and reduce inflammation ( 4 ).

Is a white truffle a mushroom?

As we said, the truffle is a type of fungus; however, don't confuse it with the mushrooms that you can fry, boil, or bake. The cooking process destroys the truffle's characteristic flavor and aroma that render it a delicacy.

What's the difference between black truffle and white truffle?

White Truffle Characteristics

Unlike the black truffle, which has a long-lasting aroma, the white truffle's scent tapers off very quickly. So typically, they are served cut, shaved, or sliced on top of pasta, chicken, or potato dishes.

Can you grow white truffles at home?

It's difficult to grow truffles indoors, though you may be able to grow black truffles or white truffles indoors. The fastest way to grow them indoors is to use an indoor truffle growing kit. However, you'll get a better, more sustainable crop if you grow them using an inoculated sapling.

What is the rarest truffle?

White truffles are considered the rarest variety of the species, so it's no surprise they cost big bucks. But just how many big bucks might surprise you. In 2016, a 4.16-pound (1.88-kilogram) white truffle — the world's largest — sold at a Sotheby's auction for $61,250.

Can you find white truffles in the US?

Of the hundreds of recorded truffle species, around seven are used for cooking, and of these, four can be found growing wild in Oregon: the Oregon winter white truffle (Tuber oregonense), the Oregon spring white truffle (Tuber gibbosum), the Oregon black truffle (Leucangium carthusianum), and the Oregon brown truffle ( ...

Are truffles more expensive than gold?

A truffle weighing 1,005 grams (2 pounds, 3.4 ounces) fetched 120,000 euros ($133,000) — more than twice the price of gold — from a Hong Kong buyer at this year's auction.

Do pigs find truffles?

A truffle hog is any domestic pig used for locating and extracting the fruit bodies of the fungi known as truffles from temperate forests in Europe and North America. Pigs have an exceptional sense of smell, and are able to identify truffles from as deep as three feet underground.

Do truffles grow in the US?

Today, there are a few dozen farms across the country that are cultivating truffles. Many are in predictably forested corners of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho and North Carolina.

Are there any poisonous truffles?

No truffles are known to be poisonous to humans (but we don't know everything...). This non-toxicity seems sensible, considering that truffles rely on small animals (via mycophagy) to distribute their spores. That said, ALWAYS be absolutely sure of the identification of anything you are considering eating!

Why are truffles so valuable?

Pound for pound, truffle is one of the most expensive foods you can buy. The reason behind such high costs is the scarcity of the produce, truffles are seasonal, extremely difficult to grow and take many years to cultivate. They also have a short shelf life.

Can you farm truffles?

Today, only a handful of truffle farms exist. Farmers grow truffles by inoculating the roots of saplings with truffle spores, then harvesting the truffles in 6 to 7 years. This technique was first recorded in 1969.