TRUFFLES - ITALY’S HIDDEN GEM

Truffles are a prized delicacy in Italy - adored for transforming even the humblest of dishes into something special. Truffles are so highly regarded by Italians that they’re celebrated with Truffle Festivals around harvest time. San Giovanni d’Asso, a town in Tuscany, even has its own dedicated Italian truffle museum.

What are Italian truffles, and why do they hold such a special place? Here, we discover why Italian truffles are so popular, the different types, where they’re found, how they’re harvested and some traditional Italian truffle recipes to try at home.

ITALIAN TARTUFI

Truffles (‘tartufi’) are underground fungi (mushrooms) that grow close to the roots of certain trees like willow, beech, hazelnut, poplar, and oak. They have intense aromas and flavours ranging from oaky, nutty and earthy, through to sweet and even ‘zingy’ savoury notes.

Truffles are popular and abundant in Italy during the Autumn. They’re shaved over just about anything; pasta, gnocchi, pizza and bruschetta, through to frittatas, omelettes and even scrambled eggs.

DISCOVER OUR FRITTATA RECIPE HERE

WHERE DO ITALIAN TRUFFLES GROW?

Italian truffles grow in forests throughout northern Piedmont and central parts of Tuscany. They’re also found in Umbria (central Italy) and Le Marche (eastern Italy), where they also benefit from hot, humid summers and cold, rainy winters.

ITALIAN WHITE TRUFFLES

‘Tuber magnatum pico’ (white truffles) are the finest in Italy. Found in Piedmont, Italian white truffles from Alba are particularly prized for their rarity, fragrant aroma and earthy flavours - offering hints of nuts, garlic or honey.

‘Tartufo bianchetto o marzuolo’ is a more common Italian white truffle, harvested between February and April. It’s got a darker skin, offers soft garlicky notes and is known for being more affordable than the rarer ‘tuber magnatum pico’ white truffle from Alba.

Other Italian white truffle varieties include ‘tuber borchii’ (the whitish truffle) and the ‘tuber aestivum’ (summer truffle).

ITALIAN BLACK TRUFFLES

The ‘tartufo nero pregiato’ (black winter truffle) is the most common and versatile of Italian truffles. It’s harvested from November through to March and is the most widely used in Italian cooking. Black winter truffles offer stronger and more earthy flavour than the more delicate and subtle flavours of white truffles.

Other varieties of Italian black truffles include the ‘tartufo nero estivo o scorzone’ (the black summer truffle), ‘tartufo uncinato’ (burgundy truffle) and ‘tartufo moscato’ (moscato truffle).

TRUFFLE HUNTING

Foraging for truffles is an art, with Italian truffle hunters traditionally using female pigs. But more commonly now dogs are trained, smelling out only the most perfectly ripe truffles, causing less damage to truffle beds and will readily pass them back in return for a treat (rather than eating them).

Specially trained dogs are taken to areas where truffles are known to grow (known as ‘tartufaia’), and then ‘let loose’ to find them. Great care goes into making sure the truffles remain intact. Dogs expertly dig them up and truffle hunters know when (and if) they need to step in, making truffle foraging a highly skilled, time-intensive and expensive process.

HOW MUCH DO ITALIAN TRUFFLES COST?

Italian truffles are one of the most expensive foods in the world. They’re highly sought after, and Italians are prepared to pay serious money for their unique aroma and taste.

The cost reflects their rarity (they can’t be farmed), the quality of a particular growing season and the fact they’re difficult (and time intensive) to find. They also grow slowly, have a short harvest season and need to be fresh as they don’t last long, or freeze well.

The rarer ‘tuber magnatum pico’ (white Italian truffles from Alba) are the most expensive, followed by winter black truffles, burgundy truffles and summer black truffles.

ITALIAN TRUFFLE RECIPES

White truffles aren’t generally cooked in Italy, in order to preserve their signature smell and flavour. They’re mostly shaved over dishes or infused into oils and butters.

Italians traditionally enjoy white truffles shaved or grated over simple fresh pasta dishes, using only light stock and gentle seasoning so that the subtle flavours can shine through. Other popular dishes for shaving them over include carpaccio (uncooked marinated beef steak), gnudi (Tuscan gnocchi made with ricotta) and meat stews.

The opposite is true for Italian black truffles, where the heat of cooking accentuates flavours – giving hearty dishes a distinctly intense aroma and flavour. Why not give our truffle risotto recipe a try? The wholemeal notes of BIRRA MORETTI perfectly complement the nutty flavour of the Arborio rice. Italians also love to shave black truffles over pizza, so give it a try with our nduja pizza with mozzarella, tomato and basil recipe.

DISCOVER OUR RECIPES HERE

ITALIAN DELICACY

Italians adore experimenting with food and there are plenty of ways to get creative with one of Italy’s most popular culinary gems. Use your new-found knowledge of Italian truffles to create simple, but decadent egg-based breakfasts for family, or invite your foodie friends over for a delicious traditional Italian feast to enjoy with perfectly paired authentic BIRRA MORETTI and BIRRA MORETTI ZERO.

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Truffles - Italy's hidden gem | Birra Moretti