Home Mushrooms La Trufería, the first physical truffle shop

La Trufería, the first physical truffle shop

We are still in season of black truffle and we take advantage of this time of year to tell you about The Trufería, first physical store what sells in Madrid this fresh wild delicacy and its derivatives. Maria Jose Rozalénnatural Teruel, is the owner of this pioneering establishment in the capital. Its premises are located in the popular Mercado de San Antón, although it also markets its products through the web. Despite the fact that in our country, these mushrooms are not widely consumed, the Teruel woman wanted to help make them known. Also to make them available to the client in a very crowded point.

A personal story behind La Trufería

It is curious that Spain is the world's leading truffle producer (eye to the data) and that, nevertheless, it is forced to export until the 80% of all production. The reason is none other than lack of consumption among Spanish consumers, who do not follow a 'truffle' culinary tradition. In other countries this is very different. But, little by little, the gastronomic culture around this underground mushroom it's growing up. Truffles and their derivatives are increasingly in demand here. Of course, the consumer must have a place where they can buy these products. Hence, the pioneering store was born The Trufería in Madrid.

Maria Jose opened in 2017 a first store in Teruel for the following year to repeat the undertaking in the Spanish capital. «One of the reasons why it is not consumed truffle is in the difficulty of buying it in establishments ", he assures in a El País interview. She grew up in a family environment collecting the fungus, before his parents went to cultivate it, being pioneers in this. Thus, the Aragonese province is the one with the most hectares planted with this product.

As explained by the regent of The Trufería, "The taste is the same" as the wild truffles, since "both breathe the same air and feed on the same land." Of course, "the wild one is more wrinkled and irregular" while in the cultivated one "the stones are removed, which are the ones that hinder its growth." There are black, But also White, both bring different qualities. Well, the first ones are of "intense flavor" and the others "more aromatic." As to derived products that can be found in the shop both physical and online are creams, cheeses, oils, pâtés, jams and even drinks.

Black Truffle Cheese / Photo: latrufería.es

Promotion and… its cultivation in Madrid?

"In Spain Before, you only found truffles in first-class restaurants, ”he recalls. Maria Jose looking back. Even to recall that more than a decade ago "there was a lot of ignorance." His parents already worked with this fungus, they were already training their dogs to go looking for him in the Teruel mountains. However, now his popularity is changing and the owner of The Trufería he believes it is because "the product has been promoted." Therefore, this "knowledge redounds to consumption."

However, without being a food aimed at an elitist public, it is in the same group as other great products gourmets such as saffron or caviar. La fresh truffle it is usually sold "by grams because the price of a kilo is scary" and Maria Jose recommended laminate or grate this delicacy when adding it to dishes. "If you cook it, it loses all its flavor," he warns in the interview. Of course, with derivatives you can juggle any culinary preparation of all kinds.

Truffle truffles
Truffles / Photo: latrufería.es

So, thanks to The Trufería, you can buy in Madrid (and Teruel) a product that needs to gain ground among the Spanish diner. Perhaps also among the sierra madrileña for its future cultivation: "You need adequate characteristics such as limestone soil, dry climate, altitude and the correct PH".

If you want to start with this product, there is no better date than these Christmas to surprise family members, couples or friends with the ideal touch of truffle. If you live or can go through the capital, visit the store of this 37-year-old from Teruel to find it fresh or in one of its derivatives. What's more, Maria Jose She is an expert who will give you the recommendations suitable for choosing what best suits your planned dishes.

Share