Unless you jump on the next plane to Italy or France, and buy a highly-trained dog (and if you can, do it now!), chances are you have limited options when buying truffles. These earthy delights are incredibly expensive, and the supply is limited and seasonal. Since they are hard to find, and subjective to seasonal and climatic conditions, the demand for truffles – especially fresh truffles – is always bigger than the supply. Also, don’t plan a dinner party based on winter black truffles in July, and always keep in mind prices will vary according to availability.
The most important factor to take into consideration when purchasing truffles is that fresh truffles need to be sent to you via overnight courier, and should be used immediately. The problem is that if you find a good truffle at a store, and at a good price, you can’t order it and save for later. Your best bet? Order online, and ask for the delivery date to be the same (or a day before to be safe) day you are planning to utilize them.
You’ve learned about truffles, what they are, their history, and how to use clean, storage them and preserve them. All you need to do now is taste them! So what are you waiting for? Go buy your own succulent truffles, after all this studying, you deserve it!