Truffle prices 2024 and complete truffle guide (2024)

Truffle. A true love-it-or-hate-it delicacy, with its tart taste and intoxicating aroma. The truffle is not a flavor that takes a back seat to any dish and can easily overwhelm the palate if overdone. Have you ever wondered, "What is a truffle?" Well, one mushroom doesn't quite cut it... but the truffle is an edible mushroom that belongs to the mushroom family. A lot ofdescribe the taste as earthy, wild even. Those on the other side of the fence might describe it as 'musky' or 'funky'. Regardless of the flavor, there is no doubt for those who love it: it is a unique, rich and luxurious ingredient that, when found on a menu, is extremely difficult to pass up the opportunity to taste again.

Why are truffles so expensive?

Pound for pound, truffle is one of the most expensive foods you can buy. The reason for such high costs is a lack of products,Truffles are seasonal, extremely difficult to grow and take many years to grow. They also have a short shelf life.

Truffles need a very specific climate to grow and require a lot of oak trees. That is why they are often found in forests. Even if all conditions are perfect for truffles to grow, they are still not guaranteed. When you set up a truffle plantation, it can take up to 6 years before you get a truffle harvest - something that is not for the faint of heart.

Hunting for truffles can be labor intensive as it requires many hunters and their dogs to cover enough ground to find the necessary number of truffles to meet demand, and each truffle must be dug up by hand.

The challenges don't stop there. Once the truffle is dug up, it immediately begins to lose moisture, so it must be quickly transported to customers around the world to appear fresh on the plate. All these costs can add up quickly

My two favorite dishes are potatoes and truffles. They are diametrically opposed to each other, but together they form one of the best possible combinations for me. For example, truffle-potato salad, truffle with mashed potatoes and poultry in half grief. -Patrick Ogheard, EHL.

The truffle market

Let's take a look at the appetite of the truffle market

This Google Trends report shows a gradual increase in the number of online searches for the various truffle-related terms since 2013. This indicates an increase in consumer demand for truffle and truffle-flavored products. In addition to the big spike in 2020 (due to the pandemic), it is also interesting that there is an increase every year around the holidays, showing that these exuberant products are associated with celebrations, luxury and parties.

Billedkilde: Google Trends

How much is the truffle industry worth?

Truffles are worth a lot of money: the global market is expected to grow to more than $6 billion within about a decade.

The truffle phenomenon has taken the world by storm, leading to an increased demand for these rare delicacies. This in turn creates demand for truffle-focused food companies, companies selling truffle-infused spices, salts and oils, and restaurants – from high-end to burger bars.

Today, 70% of the world's truffles are grown to feed the world's appetite for them.

Are mushroom truffles?

Truffles are the underground mushrooms of the Funghi Kingdom. Truffles are edible spores that grow on an underground fungus from the Tuberaceae family.

They usually grow close to the roots of trees under very specific conditions. Unlike other mushrooms that grow abundantly all year round and can be cultivated, truffles are seasonal and very difficult to grow.

Are truffles threatened by climate change?

Like all aspects of the natural world threatened by the effects of climate change, truffles are no exception.

Loss of forest areas and general shifts in conditions due to climate change have significantly reduced the number of wild truffles.

Since the 19th centuryProduction in France has fallenfrom more than 1,000 tons per season to just 30 tons.

Truffle lovers will be saddened to know that this could mean that truffles will disappear altogether in the future, despite the desire to grow them.

Find out what happenedwhen a group of EHL students from the SSTH Hotel Management program are pursuing a majorCulinary artwent truffle hunting with a truffle company in Perugia, Italy.

Truffle Prize 2024

How much do truffles sell for? The million dollar question that everyone who loves truffles and is in the restaurant industry needs to know.

The price of fresh truffles depends on supply and demand at a given time, the type of truffle and the quality of the product. It also depends on whether the buyer is buying at the retail price or at the wholesale price, i.e. to a restaurant. White truffles from Northern Italy are the most expensive of all and their scent is deeper.

Acqualagna, in the northern part of Le Marche, Italy, hosts an annual truffle festival where truffles and fresh truffle products are sold in the market. The whole city is filled with the wonderful smell of truffles. Worth a visit.

Learn more aboutdifferences between white and black trufflesin this article by one of EHL's practical arts teachers, Christophe Laurent.

The size of the truffle

The size of the truffle plays an important role in determining the price. Larger truffles are more expensive due to their rarity and higher value. These larger truffles provide a greater amount of the delicious gleba, or inner portion, and less of the outer shell known as the peridio. Larger truffles not only have a higher price, but also provide a more delicious culinary experience.

When it comes to choosing the right size truffle, it all depends on your culinary needs. If you are planning to prepare a dish with white truffles for a nice dinner for two, a small piece of truffle, about 10 to 15 grams, is more than enough to satisfy your taste buds. However, if you are a restaurant owner or chef who prepares multiple dishes, you may need several medium or large truffles to create the perfect truffle dishes. Choose the format that suits you and let the exquisite taste of truffles take your culinary creations to the next level.

When it comes to buying truffles, there is no one-size-fits-all rule. It is important to use your common sense and consider seeking advice from an experienced truffle expert. Unfortunately, there are always scammers, so being careful is crucial. Beware of those who try to sell you "large pieces that the dog bit off during the harvest" at a suspiciously low price.

How much truffle should you buy?

When it comes to how much truffle you should buy, there is no one-size-fits-all answer. However, the quality and type of truffle play a major role. For example, the white truffle has such a strong taste and aroma that just a few grams is enough to flavor a dish.

Depending on the quality, you can estimate about 5 to 10 grams per piece per person. On the other hand, the black truffle requires larger quantities to fully develop its flavor, and the lower price allows more generous scraping. In this case, it is recommended to consider at least 10 to 15 grams per person.

Truffle prices

The prices of truffles are known to be highly volatile, which increases the appeal of seeking out and acquiring these valuable underground delicacies.

Prices can be quoted per kilogram, this allows for a better understanding of the true value of truffles when comparing the kilo price side by side. However, it is important to be careful when purchasing truffles, as prices are usually expressed in euros per hectogram, or €/hg – which is equivalent to one hundred grams.

Additionally, truffle prices can fluctuate significantly depending on factors such as availability and size. It is worth noting that a larger size, especially over 50 grams, can result in a significant increase in cost, often several hundred euros.

How to calculate the price of truffles

Truffle prices are subject to significant fluctuations throughout the year and can vary depending on factors such as the collection location and the condition of the truffles. It is important to note that harvesting unripe truffles is illegal.

To ensure a successful purchase of fresh truffles, it is advisable to seek advice from an expert or well-known seller. It is essential that you familiarize yourself with the criteria for assessing the quality of truffles to avoid unpleasant surprises.

The five most important factors that determine the prices of truffles.

• the amount raised
• ask
• conservation status
• the size
• collection period

Cheaper ways to experience truffles

Truffle oil, truffle salt and truffle butter

An affordable way to enjoy truffles, especially white truffles, is infused with herbs. Truffles are soaked in olive oil to infuse the rich flavor into the oil, while with truffle salt and butter, small pieces of truffle can be mixed in - a great way to preserve the truffle flavor long after the fresh truffle would have expired.

Check the label on the truffle product (especially the oils) to make sure it is not artificially flavored but is made with real truffles. A spritz or sprinkle here and there while cooking goes a long way with such a heady fragrance oil, so even if your budget only buys a small bottle for your pantry, it's worth the investment while it lasts. It is usually added to pasta and risotto dishes, but can also be used to add depth to your steak frites, give a touch of luxury to your morning eggs or even spice up a cheese toastie!

Patrick Ogheard's guide to truffles

The 4 main types of truffle by EHL's Senior Lecturer of Culinary Arts

1.Knolmelanosporum

• I consider this the best black truffle.
• It comes from south-west France and is also called 'Truffle de Périgorde'.
• Season: late November to mid-March.
• It is best to use raw or cooked and fresh.
• Use garlic as an exhaust for the truffle flavor. Rub the garlic over the mandolin slicer if you use it to cut truffles.
• The truffle can be stored for up to 10 days in the refrigerator, but not hermetically sealed, because truffles release gas. Place it in a bowl, cover it with uncooked rice (for risotto) and/or dip it in grapeseed oil. You can use the rice later; this has then absorbed the flavor of the truffle. The same goes for putting eggs in a bowl with truffles; when you cook the eggs later, they will have absorbed the truffle flavor through their porous shell.
• You can also store this type in the freezer or sterilized. But not hermetically sealed, because truffles give off gas.
• You can grow this truffle-like potato underground next to certain trees (chestnut, oak).
• To find these truffles you need a dog, pigs or flies.

2.A huge tuber

• This is a white truffle.
• For me it is the best truffle in the world. And the most expensive.
• You can't let this grow. Good sniffer dogs are needed to find him.
• Grows underground, mainly in the Piedmont region of northern Italy and in parts of Greece.
• Season: October to mid-January.
• Store in the refrigerator, not in a closed container, and not longer than a week. Never freeze this truffle.
• Use only raw and fresh.
• Delicious with white meat, seafood, rice and potatoes.

3.Summer tuber

• Also known as 'summer truffle'.
• It's cheap and doesn't have much flavor. Many restaurants use it for the name "truffle".
• It is very common in the summer season. You find it everywhere, in different types of restaurants. You can slice it on salads and various cold dishes.
• Use it raw, cool and cold.
• Season: May to August.
• Do not freeze.

4.Tuber hook

• Also known as "Burgundian Truffle".
• The properties are a combination of Tuber Aestivum because it is cheaper than Melanosporum, but has less flavor than "truffe du Perigord".
• Season: September to November.
• Grows in shady places.
• It is best to use it cooked, but you can also use it raw.