La white truffle It is one of the most expensive and exclusive products used in today's gourmet gastronomy. There are very few and the vast majority of chefs want them. Below we will explain why your exorbitant price, where to find and search methods for this Italian gastronomic fantasy. Here in Spain the best known is her sister: black truffle.
From in Piedmont
Tuber Magnatum PeakKnown as white truffle, grows in the Italian region of Piedmont, specifically in Alba, a small town located in the northeast of Italy. It was discovered in the year 1788 by Victor Pico, Italian scientist, who described her as a kind of tuber. But what he did not know was that he had just discovered a real diamond among the foods of his category.
It is called White due to the color of its flesh or ivory pulp with some brown touches. One of its characteristics is that it is a tuber hypogeum, that is, it grows underground and its surface is normally rough and irregular. It usually measures between 2 and 6 centimeters but sometimes you can find larger truffles reaching a size of 15 centimeters.
Aroma and flavor of white truffle
On the one hand, the smell of white truffle is very characteristic, it resembles a mixture between methane gas, garlic and cheese fermented. On the other hand, the flavor tends to be intense and nice with spicy touches. Similarly, this fungus can be found in different locations at an altitude between 400 and 800 meters. This tuber usually appears in the provinces of Alessandría, Cuneo and Sicilia. We also find it in countries like Croatia, Slovenia and Hungary.
White truffle is not found in Spain. However, we can find different varieties of truffle, including the black truffle from the Mediterranean to the interior of the Peninsula. This type of fungus usually grows in soils loamy-limestone and in esplanades without stones. It is customary to collect this from the end of summer to the beginning of winter.
Search methods
To find the most famous tuber in the gourmet kitchen you have to be well equipped. First, a strong glass with a dropper cap, filled with salfumán to check the alkalinity of the soil; an altimeter, to measure if the altitude you are at is correct; and a machete "truffle". On the other hand, if you want to search white truffles you must have one license and have the authorization of the land owner. When it comes to detecting the specific area where this fungus is found, it is difficult, since it lives under the ground.
To facilitate your search we can use special animals that sniff out truffles faster. Specifically, the Dogs but you can also use the pigs and goats. This method is not recommended, since you run the risk of them devouring the precious delicacy. If you do not have a "truffle" animal you can do the following: First, see if there are irregular elevations with small cracks, produced by the growth of the most superficial or larger truffles. Secondly, through your tools you must extract said truffle and, later, level the steep terrain.
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Why are white truffles so expensive?
The exorbitant price of the twhite ruff it is due to his shortage, getting to pay 6.000 euros per kilo, something that not everyone can afford. Many truffles cannot be bought in a conventional market but you have to go to auction centers where these gastronomic fantasies are sold. In Spain, you can find them at specialized stores in Madrid, like La Trufería or Trufas Alonso. Its price is in direct relation to its size and weight. For example, in an auction of Japan an astronomical amount of $100.000 for two white truffles (about a kilo each).
In conclusion, the white truffle It is one of the most loved diamonds in high-end gastronomy and its price is due to the scarcity and difficulty of finding it. Would you be able to share one?
