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Truffle

The truffle, commonly called « the black diamond of the kitchen » with its value, is a fungus too often overlooked and unjustly relegated to the Christmas periode.

By its appearance, truffle, black or white, is more rounded, but may be irregular because of the field where it matures. It is only at the foot of truffle trees. Buried, it localises by truffle dogs effectively trained to that effect, or more traditionally through sows.

There are a total of 6 varieties of gourmet truffles known (source : Wikipédia) :

The Tuber melanosporum Vitt, known as the Périgord black truffle, scent very strong and very pleasant flavor. It is found in the Dordogne, the Lot and in the south-east of France, Spain, Italy and the former Yugoslavia. Maturity period : (variable depending on weather conditions), from 15 November to 31 March.

The Tuber brumale Vitt, known musky nose, the smell of garlic and the ethereal taste very peppery and slightly sweet. Maturity period : from 15 November to 31 March.

The Tuber aestivum Vitt, called truffle Mayenque, the thin and light odor and taste mild mushroom forest. Maturity period : 1 May to 31 September.

The Tuber uncinatum Chatin called Burgundy truffle, which looks like the Tuber aestivum but with smell and taste more pronounced. It is the most widely used throughout Europe and is in harmony with more variety of trees. Maturity period : from 15 September to 31 January.

The Tuber mesentericum Vitt, pleasant smell of liquorice, almond and bitter taste. Maturity period : from 15 September to 31 December.

In Italy, the Pico Tuber magnatum called white Alba truffle, is the most sought after by fans.

Truffles, whether white or black, did not grow but is at the whim of the vagaries of nature. Product rare at best if one year's crop is very good truffle can be worth 4,000 euros per kilo and exceed 10,000 euros per kilo if the year is very bad. Why this fungus is used in small quantities in the gastronomic.

During the summer period, the truffle has increased exponentially from a few grams to the weight that is commonly 30 to 50 grams.

Color and aroma, truffles can acquire at the time of harvest. There are over thirty varieties of truffles, but only some have a genuine interest in terms of taste.

Revered by his followers around the world, hailed by leading Chefs and crowned by the food critics, the truffle goes to carriers and culinary condiment that makes cooking easy and accessible throughout the year : oil, vinegar, butter, mustard, sauce, salt, honey, chocolate, candied, but tapenade paste, rice, polenta, cheese etc …

With our recipes with truffles, truffles work is simple and you will easily bluff your guests.

Discover our shop on line and follow the recipe you want !

A little history...

The passion of lovers of good things for this great fungus does not date from yesterday. The truffle, white or black, is indeed famous since antiquity, although it was not until Brillat-Savarin to give her real nobility, who in his enthusiasm christened "diamond of the kitchen". For a long time, however, the truffles were not cooked to their advantage, because most often embellished with spices that strength in masked the taste. Among the Greeks and Romans, the truffles were served at the end of the meal, marinated in a spicy ginger cinnamon.

The Arabs for their truffles cooked in a highly aromatic herb juice. After Roman times, the use of the nose seems to have lost, and we can not find more recipes in the Middle Ages. It was not until the Renaissance (after the Popes in Avignon from the rebate had to fashion), so that it makes its appearance again and become usual princely feasts as the French for black truffles, Italian citizens for white truffles.

The therapeutic ... and aphrodisiacs ?

The Greeks and Romans lent truffle of therapeutic and aphrodisiac powers that he still recognized in the nineteenth century. The Moors also familiar with the truffle and the great Arab physician Avicenna recommended it to patients. He still attributes the following medicinal properties: cons weakness, vomiting, pains, gout, for the healing of wounds, etc. ...

But in fact, the truffles are they an aphrodisiac? The answer is far from established. However if the sow naturally seeks truffles, because it emanates from this same fragrance substances that are found in the sex organs of the pig! It would be a pheromone, "steroid strong musky smell similar to that of the boar testis and transferred to the salivary glands during the pre-mating. The biological role of this cue could explain the enthusiasm and motivation of the pig for truffles. "(R. Claus, HO Hoppen, H. Karg, 1981. The secret of truffles: a steroidal pheromone. Expérimentia, 1178-1179)

Truffles and truffle...

Truffles do not grow like other fruits or vegetables. They do not sow and not be bugged. The art of the truffle is to reproduce the ideal conditions for the expression of the truffle and its requirements are numerous: land, climate, exhibition, symbiotic tree fungus.

The truffle is the field planting truffle tree. A parcel "truffle" reasonable includes about 400 trees a hectare. A tree must occupy a seat available approximately 24M2.

Harvesting of the nose is called the "breakout". It begins in November and ends mid-March. The breakout is the act of digging the ground to harvest the fungus.

The dog and the pig are the two most valuable aids for orderly harvest. The dog, more mobile and docile, the preferred choice of truffle. Other animals domesticated and trained (fox, badger, wild boar ...), can also be used in digging. More rarely, other methods may also be used (electronic sensors, species of flies that lay on the ground, over the truffles).

The harvesting tools are often the taste of truffle. Indeed, there are no rules and no well-defined tool. Curved rods, screwdriver, rake teeth 2 or 3. The important thing is to preserve the fruiting body and does not alter the substance.

The brush has revealing truffles truffle for your viewing pleasure on the mandolin "cut truffle in the kitchen it can finely chop the truffles without damaging them. It can be made of olive wood, or more often today in stainless.

Unusual ...

A truffle of Piedmont awarded EUR 95,000, London - Monday, 14 November 2005

A 1.2 kg truffle of Piedmont native Italian was awarded 63,000 pounds (95,000 euros) to an anonymous buyer from Hong Kong at an auction held at Christie's London home. The price far exceeds $ 52,000 (44,315 euros) paid in November 2004 by the London restaurant 'Zafferano' for another Italian truffle of Tuscany this time, 852 grams, at an auction held in Florence (Italy ).

Five other truffles were also sold the same day always with Christies in London in two London restaurants: Marco Pierre White, the head of Luciano, who spent 9200 pounds (13,700 euro) for four truffles, and Claudio Pultz, head of Fiore who paid 1,750 pounds (2,600 euros) for a nugget of 234 grams.

The truffle bought by the "Zafferano" in 2004 had finally rotted in the fridge of the store, before the supposed wealthy clients enjoy, including actress Gwyneth Paltrow and Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, had time to be served.

Selection of books...

Best of the nose : The sweet and savory recipes from top chefs to everyone - By Michele Villemur - Publishing Ransay

The truffle : research, culture and cuisine - G Ravazzi, JM Rocchia - Editions De Vecchi

The truffle : land and life - Gabriel Callot - INRA Editions

Wine and truffles : a route truffle impétinent - Denis Hervier - Editions Feret

Good recipes for truffles - Guy Monier - Editions Aubaniel

Gourmet Value

One thing is for sure the nose does not leave indifferent. Its scent is very powerful and unforgettable mix, both of mineral and animal secretion. The white or black truffle, summer or winter, has a unique smell of undergrowth, soil and humus, roasted nuts sublimated and other similar fragrances. Its taste is delicately peppery odor reminiscent cited.

These exceptional organoleptic qualities, and its relative rarity, truffles are one of the most expensive food in the world. This is one of the few agricultural products whose demand is much greater than supply.

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Black Truffles

White Truffles of Alba

Burgundy Truffles

Truffles Brumale

Summer Truffles

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