There is one very important thing that you should always remember when you are going to buyfresh truffles: winter is the peak of the truffle season. So no matter what they say, a truffle will be at its best and most flavorful during the winter harvest, which typically runs from October to March and peaks in December to January. You should also remember that weather conditions change depending on the year and geographical location, so there are other factors that influence the truffle harvest, such as an unusually warm winter or an early spring.
Truffles are categorized by color – black or white – and season – winter or summer – but you will also find other categories related to origin, such as Italian or French truffles, which you should really ignore as it really makes no difference. difference in taste or quality (unless it is categorized as "Asian", in which case it indicates a completely different species of mushroom - see our section on Chinese truffles).
Characters
Within each season and color category you will also find qualities, quality brands that usually indicate price and availability. An important detail to remember is that it is largertrufflesGet higher prices because truffles are priced by weight, not size. A larger truffle will therefore be heavier and therefore cost more. The size does not affect the taste, aroma or quality of truffles.
Superextra
The best, largest truffles, almost the size of a grapefruit. Very rare to find, and very expensive.
Extra character
Elongated truffles the size of ping pong balls, popularly used in restaurants. They make up about ten percent of the harvest and are quite expensive.
First choice
The truffles you can most often find (and afford) are lower quality truffles. They vary in size, usually the size of large berries.
FAQs
Truffles are in the genus Tuber, order Pezizales (phylum Ascomycota, kingdom Fungi).
How do you pick the best truffle? ›
A high quality truffle should be pretty heavy for its size. If you notice any holes or pits in the truffle, reconsider getting it. A Black Truffle should smell earthy and a little bit like garlic. If the garlic smell is too strong, the truffle might not be at its best.
What time of year do you pick truffles? ›
The white truffles are in season from September to around December. The black truffles are the most common because you can find them during winter and summer. You can find the black winter truffles in plenty between November and April because they peak around New Year.
Can you find truffles without a dog? ›
Dig truffles up with a rake.
Raking is the best way to hunt for truffles without a truffle dog or pig to help sniff them out. However, this method can pull up unripe or rotten truffles along with mature ones.
What are the 7 hierarchical categories? ›
The following are the important hierarchies in which different organisms are classified:
- Kingdom. The kingdom is the highest level of classification, which is divided into subgroups at various levels. ...
- Phylum. This is the next level of classification and is more specific than the kingdom. ...
- Class. ...
- Order. ...
- Family. ...
- Genus. ...
- Species.
There are a number of grading systems in use throughout the world for Tuber melanosporum (and other truffle species).
What truffle is rarest? ›
Alba white truffle, also known by its scientific name Tuber magnatum Pico, is the rarest and most coveted of all truffles.
What is the tastiest truffle? ›
Italian white Alba are the most sought-after truffles in the world as they offer the most incredible scent and taste, they are only available during a certain time of year and have a distinct aroma that contrasts with the slightly more common black varieties.
Which type of truffle is the most expensive? ›
The most expensive truffle ever sold is the Tuber magnatum Pico, commonly known as the white truffle. Specifically, the record belongs to a giant white truffle that weighed 3.3 pounds (or about 1.5 kilograms).
Why do you hunt truffles at night? ›
Truffles are easier to find at night. There's less noise to distract the dogs, and the soil aerates at night, allowing truffle fumes to waft up more strongly.
If you have found a summer truffle in May or June, it is likely that it is unripe. An unripe truffle, when cut open, has flesh that is pale, almost white. They darken as they get riper. If unripe, it will also only have a hint of truffle smell to it and the taste will be quite bland.
What is the best animal to find truffles? ›
Today, dogs—known as truffle hounds—are commonly used for gathering truffles in place of truffle hogs, as pigs have been known to eat too many truffles in the field. Unlike pigs, dogs have no natural affinity for truffles, and must be specially scent-trained to locate them.
How do you know where to dig for truffles? ›
The best way to find truffles is to look for them in areas where they are known to grow. Truffles typically grow in forests or wooded areas. You can also look for truffles by following the trails of animals that like to eat them, such as pigs or deer.
Where do truffles grow in the USA? ›
In the United States, edible truffles are collected in the forests of Oregon and Washington. In Europe, most truffles are collected in France and Italy. Truffle hunters in Italy and France use pigs and mixed-breed dogs to sniff out truffles. Dogs are preferred to pigs because pigs love to eat truffles.
How much does a truffle cost? ›
In 2021, the rarest black truffles, like the Burgundy black truffle, went for nearly $900 per pound, while more common truffles, like the Chinese black truffle, ran for less than $100 a pound. Meanwhile, European white truffles can sell for as much as $3,300 a pound!
What are truffles classified as? ›
Truffles are not plants or animals—they're underground mushrooms in the fungi kingdom.
What is the hierarchical classification of fungi? ›
Classification of fungi is divided into two namely; true fungi and fungus-like organisms. Examples of true fungi are chytridiomycota, zygomycota, ascomycota, basidiomycota and deuteromycota. While examples for fungi-like organisms are myxomycota, plasmodiophoromycota and oomycota.
What is the hierarchy of classification of mushroom? ›
Starting from broader categories like Kingdom and Phylum, it narrows down to specific species. For fungi, this classification goes as follows: Kingdom > Phylum (or Division) > Class > Order > Family > Genus > Species.
What category is truffle? ›
Truffles traditionally belong to the genera Tuber, Terfezia, and Leucangium; specifically in the Ascomycotina division of the Fungi kingdom. There are many species, over 140 in fact, though relatively few of them have a real market value. Cultivated varieties include: Black Perigord truffle (Tuber melanosporum)
