What Is a Truffle? How to Buy and Enjoy All Types of Truffles
Here’s everything you need to know about one of the world’s most expensive foods: truffles.
Nicknamed “black diamonds” and “the Mozart of mushrooms,” truffles are the ultimate luxury. While truffles have always been coveted at fine-dining restaurants and the upper echelons of society, the extremely indulgent food has recently gained even more popularity. You’ve probably seen the knobby, irregular-shaped balls shaved into thin slices over a plate of pasta or ground into a rich black paste to be used in cooking. But these fungi have fascinated chefs and food lovers for centuries, thanks to their intense aroma and complex flavor profile. They’re also one of the world’s most expensive foods because they’re rare and extremely difficult to find.
Similar to other fine foods, such as caviar and oysters, there’s a lot to learn about truffles. Our ultimate guide to truffles will teach you everything you need to know — from the basics of what a truffle is to how to enjoy them like a pro.
In This Article
- What Exactly Are Truffles?
- What Do Truffles Taste Like?
- The Types of Truffles
- Where Are Truffles Found?
- Why Are Truffles So Expensive?
- How to Buy and Serve Truffles
What Exactly Are Truffles?
Truffles are a type of fungi that grows underground in symbiosis with the roots of specific types of trees. They look like firm, irregular-shaped orbs with a rough surface and will have either a golden, whitish, deep brown, or black hue. Truffles vary in size, but once mature, they typically weigh about 30-60 grams and are about the size of a golf ball. And, no, we’re not talking about the chocolates — although chocolate truffles take their name from the resemblance to this fungus.
What Do Truffles Taste Like?
It’s nearly impossible to describe the flavor of truffles — there’s nothing quite like it. Each variety of truffle has 30-60 volatile constituents (also known as chemical compounds that create smell and flavor), giving it one of the most complex flavor profiles. Many describe truffles as earthy or even funky. Whether it’s white truffle delicately shaved over pasta or an intense black truffle risotto, the overwhelming aroma adds a complex richness to any dish.
The Types of Truffles
While there are many specific species of truffles, the delicacy falls into two main categories: white and black truffles.
White Truffles
Fine-food enthusiasts consider Alba (tuber magnatum) the most precious truffle in the world. Alba truffles have a knobby shape and can range in hue from deep golden to stark white. Only in season from September to December, white truffles are rarer than black truffles and typically have a more pungent aroma than black truffles. That aroma fades quickly, so they are typically served raw and shaved over a dish.
Black Truffles
Burgundy (tuber uncinatum), perigord (tuber melanosporum, also known as black winter truffles), and summer (tuber aestivum) are all varieties of black truffle. Compared with white truffles, black truffles often taste more robust, are rich in umami flavors, and also have longer seasons throughout the year, depending on the exact species. They are less delicate with a flavor that sticks around for a longer time, so you can cook them, use them in a compound butter, or serve these truffles raw.
Truffle Oil
Beware of truffle oil — it may not actually contain any truffle. As truffles have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, many companies have started selling truffle oils that contain synthetic compounds, such as 2,4-dithiapentane, designed to replicate the scent of truffles. If you are going to buy truffle oil or other products that contain truffle, such as chips or salt, look to trusted brands like New York City–based luxury purveyor Regalis Foods, Urbani Truffles, or Marky’s. Remember that truffles are pricey. If your truffle oil is only a couple of bucks, it’s probably too good to be true.
Where Are Truffles Found?
The Piedmont region of Northern Italy is the most famous place for truffle hunting. But there are actually many places around the world where you can find truffles in the wild, including France, other parts of Italy, and even up into the United Kingdom. Truffles thrive in cool, damp environments with limestone soil, helping New Zealand, Spain, and even the Pacific Northwest of the United States to become popular places to forage truffles in recent years. Truffles grow thanks to a symbiotic relationship with oak, hazelnut, and pine trees — truffles attach to the tree’s roots, and they provide each other with nutrients to grow.
Why Are Truffles So Expensive?
Truffles are one of the most expensive foods you can buy. White truffles, which are the rarer type, cost about $3,000 to $5,000 per pound, while black truffles can pull in up to $800 per pound. This delicacy has such a high price because truffles are extremely scarce and take five to 10 years to mature, depending on the species, which adds to the product’s rarity. This creates exclusivity surrounding truffles, which explains why the most expensive restaurants often incorporate them into signature dishes and sometimes offer truffle-focused tasting menus.
Since truffles grow underground, they are also extremely laborious to find, requiring hunters to wander the forest with specially trained dogs that can detect the morsels up to three feet beneath the earth’s surface.
How to Buy and Serve Truffles
Since truffles are so expensive, I leave them to the professionals. But you can buy your own truffles and serve them at home. Sources like Regalis, Urbani, Marky’s, Sabatino, and other local luxury food purveyors sell truffles directly to consumers. Once you have your truffle in hand, all you need is a fine grater or microplane to make your meal a bit more luxurious.
If you are buying truffles for at-home use, keep in mind that they lose their freshness quite quickly; you should store them in dry conditions and consume them within a week. Never wash your truffles, as they absorb moisture; use a truffle brush or clean toothbrush instead to remove dirt.
Many chefs use truffles to add even more richness to indulgent dishes like pasta or foie gras terrine. But as for how to serve it at home, I think you’ll best enjoy truffles by keeping them as close as possible to their original form. Shave them over delicately scrambled eggs or use them to top a perfectly cooked baked potato and you’re sure to impress your dinner guests.
