Truffles Rich in Both History and Flavor
Truffles are delicious mushrooms that have been considered a delicacy for centuries. They have always been difficult to find when grown in the wild, and therefore are considered rare and often were only consumed by wealthy ruling classes throughout time. Beginning in the 19th century, successful ways to cultivate truffles were discovered. These successful cultivation techniques mainly consisted of observation. First, it had to be determined which trees tended to produce the most truffles (they can typically be found in or near the tree’s roots.) The trees in question were primarily oaks, so truffle farmers would gather acorns from the best truffle producing trees and plant them, hoping that the saplings would mature into truffle-bearing trees. Quite often this was the case, and therefore truffle cultivation became successful.
These days, you don’t have to tromp through the woods with a pig to sniff out these treasured mushrooms. They are widely available at fine retailers worldwide. Black truffles can be shaved over pasta and added to other dishes, imparting a depth of flavor and an earthiness to any meal. A fresh truffle, the black variety is the most prized, therefore usually being the most expensive of the truffles.
Truffles grown in January and February are, to most truffle aficionados, among the most delectable, and are referred to as winter truffles. They are best eaten very fresh, rather than preserved. White winter truffles are also delicious, and have a strong garlic flavor. The strong scent imparts a delicious and robust flavor. Truffles of different varieties are grown all over Europe, especially in Italy and France. Asia is also a major player in the truffle market, and Australia has recently made headway into the market as well.
Truffles come in three different grades; super extra, extra grade and first choice. Super extra grade is the best quality, and therefore the most expensive, while first choice truffles are also exquisite and ideal for chefs just starting to experiment with truffles. A variety of delicious truffle specialties are available for purchase, such as white and black truffle oil, truffle honey and even truffle butter.