What are Truffles?
Truffles – are a highly prized and very rare type of subterranean fungi known for their intense aroma and distinct flavors. They’re found primarily under the roots of certain trees, such as oak, hazelnut, and beech, and are considered culinary gems due to their unique flavor and aroma.
More About Truffles
First of all, we’re not talking about luxury chocolate truffles! Those are delicious, but a completely different thing. Here, we’re talking about fresh truffles, mushrooms that grow underneath the earth. They have an extraordinary aroma and flavor profile that is difficult to replicate. Their musky, earthy, and often pungent fragrance and complex taste add a distinct favor to dishes.
Described as “aromatic mysteries” by Julia Child, and “the diamond of the kitchen” by the gastronome Brillat-Savrin, their allure lies in a flavor and aroma that’s difficult to describe and impossible to emulate, a deep umami, an earthy flavor, and a musky scent that’s almost aphrodisiac.
Truffles grow wild, and are hard to find, with each truffle hunter guarding their secret spots zealously, starting out in the cold winter dawns with their truffle hunting dogs to grab the best ones. Because they grow below the ground, they’re harvested with the help of these specially trained dogs. They’re at their most aromatic and flavorful right after harvest, which is why they’re immediately shipped by air to their destination. It makes them one of the most expensive gourmet foods available!
Types of Truffles
There are dozens of types of truffle mushrooms available, usually differentiated by their genus and type. The most common defining characteristic is color – white or black- then followed by their season of availability – winter, summer, spring, and fall. Origin is also a key differentiator: most truffles that are sold for culinary use come from France and Italy (they’re considered the most luxurious).
You can also order a variety of truffle products like oils, extracts, truffle butters and more. Many truffle brands like Urbani carry not only the most expensive truffles like winter truffles, but also other luxury truffle foods. Cooking truffles with the aid of these products really enhances the experience.
Cost of Truffles
The market price of truffles varies with each species and season. The best truffles in the world can cost up to thousands per pound, while the most inexpensive will only set you back a few dollars. The range is wide, and the most expensive truffles sell fast, no matter the price. Italian white truffles, also known as the Alba truffle, are luxury and are generally the most expensive truffle you can buy.
Winter truffles are more expensive than summer ones – and much more potent and aromatic. Buying summer truffles is a great way to start experimenting with this ingredient without breaking the bank, and they do deliver a pleasant, mild flavor that really completes the lighter dishes of summer.
Other factors that impact a truffle sale price? Their size and shape. Larger, more even ones cost more than smaller, irregular-shaped ones. Perfect truffles fetch better prices, and that’s a fact. Neither size nor shape impacts the taste, so if you want to buy truffles and save a little, go for the smaller, not-so-pretty pieces. You’ll find truffles priced a little different than most of our products – truffle cost per gram or truffle price per kg is the most common way prices are displayed – except converted to ounces or lbs. for truffles USA markets.
Order Truffles
If you typically search for “truffles near me”, you’ll find little to no results. Your best bet is to order truffles online, where the truffle cost varies according to the market price of truffles. At Gourmet Food Store we fly them in fresh every couple of days for our truffle shop, to ensure you order truffles that are fresh as can be. Our truffle delivery system is such that as soon as they arrive at the store, they’re shipped out to our customers – they don’t hang around the shop! Our truffle hunters make sure they preselect the most perfect truffles, so you can enjoy this luxury product.
Buy truffle online, and you won’t have to google buy truffles near me ever again! Our customers truffle reviews rave time and time again about their quality and our expert delivery. We have the best online truffles, and you’ll find a lot of truffle photos and information to guide your purchase.
Truffles Questions And Answers
Q:What is a truffle?
A:The correct truffle definition, according to the Oxford dictionary: a strong-smelling underground fungus that resembles an irregular, rough-skinned potato, it is considered a culinary delicacy and found, especially in France, with the aid of trained dogs or pigs.
Q:What does a truffle taste like?
A:It depends! Whites are generally described as garlicky, while blacks are said to be more earthy. You must try them to find out exactly!
Q:how to grow truffles
A:Truffles grow naturally underneath certain trees. Truffle CAN be grown, if you inoculate truffle spores into oak tree roots, which is how several countries without naturally occurring truffles like Argentina and Australia are able to supply truffles.
Q:What is a white truffle?
A:White truffles are also known as Alba truffles or Piedmont white truffles, from the species tuber magnatum. They are recognizable by their pale cream, light brown skin with white marbling.