White Truffles - All You Need to Know About Them

Have you ever wondered why white truffle is so expensive? What is white truffle, and why are some people obsessed about it?  It isn't without reason, and that's why we are here today. To talk about this delicacy, why it is so exclusive, and how it makes every meal so different and unimaginably tasty.    Of course, you'll probably want to know what a white truffle is, is truffle a mushroom, where truffles grow, and who knows what more. And we'll try to answer every one of your questions, plus give you some extra exciting trivia about the truffle.   

What Are Truffles?  

Truffles are fungi that grow underneath the ground in the soil. When we say it like that, it seems like a truffle is like any other fungi, but there's more to that. For a truffle to grow, various conditions need to be met. These fungi grow near the roots of trees in calcareous soil. But it can't be any tree; they like to grow in soil around oaks and hazelnuts.    Many will think that a truffle is a mushroom, and many will explain it like that also because the body of a truffle is full of spores. You can consider a truffle a mushroom, but there are some significant differences that you need to know.    Mushrooms often grow above ground, while truffles grow underground. Both mushrooms and truffles have a specific earthy flavor, but truffles are much more aromatic and distinctive.    Most common mushrooms known to anyone typically have two parts of their body: the part that reproduces spores or the fruiting part. And the second part is the stem that's underground, and that's called a fungus. And truffles don't look like a typical mushroom. So, now you know the answer to the question is truffle a mushroom.

Different Types of Truffles 

Many different truffle species can be found, but the most popular and edible are the black truffles and white truffles.  We could say that the white truffle looks like a potato on the outside, a really rough one. And on the inside, it has a pale marbled texture. They are the more pungent truffle type, with a garlicky flavor to them. Both their smell and taste can be a bit overwhelming to a dish, that's why they are usually used as a garnish, or sparingly just sprinkled on the food. The black truffle looks even rougher than the white one and has a specific granular texture on the outside. On the inside black truffle looks very interesting and more eye-pleasing than its exterior. It has a more noticeable marbled texture than the white one that resembles wagyu beef.  Now that you know what white truffle is, we will focus on it and why it is so good.  

How Does a White Truffle Taste? 

To know the exact taste of white truffle, you need to try it. There aren't words good enough that can describe the unique taste of it. But we'll try to explain it to you the best we can.   The taste of it is a mix of intense earthy and garlicky aromas. There are hints of typical mushroom taste and a pronounced, deep musky aroma.   The taste varies from one specimen to another, and two different truffles from two different parts of the world won't taste the same. The place where do truffles grow, the trees under which you find the truffles are also essential in the final taste of this fungi.  And not knowing how it would definitely taste and not knowing how to explain the specific aromas is the real beauty of a truffle. So, we always recommend people to try a dish made with them, if they've never had a chance before.  

Can You Grow Truffles? 

Before jumping into an explanation of a hustle called growing truffles, we should first talk about where do truffles grow.   You can find truffles in many places around the globe. In Europe, there are excellent quality white truffles, like, for example, in Italy, Croatia, and France. White truffles are a bit more stubborn when it comes to growing them. Their black variants managed to find new homes around the globe. But don't get fooled; truffles are still rare, and due to that, are considered a delicacy.  But can growing truffles be done anywhere? Technically, yes. And is growing truffles easy? It is definitely not.   Growing truffles is highly complicated, and to do it, you need to inject fungi spores into an oak or a hazelnut tree. And, that's not all; you should do it while the trees are just seedlings. And then you wait for as much as four years.   The truffles will grow alongside the trees, attached to their roots. The tree gets nutrients from the truffles, and the fungi feed on the roots. It seems like an ideal relationship, and it is. But not every planted truffle thrives.   The farmers can hope for the best outcome when the harvest comes, but harvesting truffles isn't easy. First of all, humans can't easily find them, and we need a little help from animals. For truffle hunting, people use dogs, and pigs, that are specially trained to sniff the specific aroma of the fungi. However, even the animals can't find anything because the fungi didn't thrive for various reasons, like lousy climate, soil, etc.   Also, truffle hunting could be arranged - when people try to hunt them in the wild. An activity like this is also done with the help of a dog or a pig, and it can be pretty adventurous. Dogs are more likely to be used nowadays because they are more obedient than pigs. But pigs are better truffle sniffers and finders.   Due to all of the information mentioned above and the struggle, one has to experience to find a truffle, these fungi are considered an exclusive ingredient in meals and expensive.  

In Which Recipes You Can Use White Truffles? 

We are not exaggerating when we say that you can eat white truffles in almost everything.  You can use them in condiments like truffle salt, truffle oil, and various sauces. It allows you to spice up every meal you prepare and level it up.   You should try pairing them with eggs because they go perfectly together. Try an omelet with truffles, or level up simple breakfast scrambled eggs with a sprinkle of this magnificent fungi.   They go well with cheese and pasta dishes with cheese sauces. They also pair well with chicken and fish, and you can also use them in soups.   Make an excuse to try them, be creative, improvise, and don't be afraid to shave a bit more of these gorgeous fungi over your dish. You won't regret it.   For now, this is quite enough information about this delicate and rare fungi. And those that now crave to try some specialty with this unusual mushroom call us and make a reservation at Stubborn Seed. Our stunning atmosphere and delicious meals are waiting for you. We hope you're as excited about trying something new as we are when preparing you delicious food.