Truffle is a marsupial mushroom that forms an underground tuberous, fleshy fruiting body. Grows in forests. Is a saprophyte. The mycelium forms threads that envelop the roots of a nearby tree. The mushroom helps the tree obtain additional moisture and protects it from microbial diseases.
Mycelium is durable provided it is not destroyed. IN favorable environment it periodically forms fruiting bodies that contain spores that promote further reproduction. In terrestrial fungi, spores are carried by wind and water. And the underground depends on animals that will eat it, digest it and excrete the remains, which will contain spores.
The truffle mushroom produces a characteristic odor precisely to attract animals. Not all species are edible. There are some that exude the “aroma” of rotten herring.
The Périgordian has the greatest value. It is fragrant, black, warty on the outside, reddish-black or dark gray inside, with veins more light color. It grows in the south of France and northern Italy, mainly in beech and oak groves. It is of great industrial importance. It’s not for nothing that they call him “the capricious prince.” The French consider theirs national product truffle mushroom. The photos demonstrate it well.
The Trinity truffle, or white Polish truffle, is slightly less valuable. The flesh of its fruiting body is light and resembles a potato in appearance. It grows in forests in western Europe and is also found in Russia, for example, in the Moscow region.
The truffle mushroom develops and matures underground at a depth of 5 to 20 cm. These mushrooms grow several at a time, forming a nest. In some cases, part of the mushroom can be visible from the ground. Its size can vary from up to a good potato; occasionally specimens weighing more than 1 kg are found.
Once in Italy they found a truffle mushroom that weighed 720 grams. It was sold at auction for 210 thousand dollars. This fact confirms the prevailing opinion that this is the case in the world.
There is evidence that by regularly eating truffle mushroom, you can prolong your youth. Unfortunately, it cannot be cultivated, although many attempts have been made to do so.
To find this amazing mushroom, you can resort to the help of a trained pig or dog. Pigs have a natural instinct for truffles, but to prevent them from eating the find themselves, they are first trained. For this work, females are selected at the age of 4 months. Having found a truffle mushroom, the pig begins to dig the ground with its hoof, it is driven away, and some delicacy is given as consolation, for example, boiled beans. Trained pigs work for 10 years or more. The disadvantage of these bloodhounds is that they get tired quickly. A dog can search for a long time, but only poodles are suitable for this work.
There is another way to determine the location of the fungus. It is worth watching for truffle flies. During sunset, they circle in a swarm above the ground and lay eggs only near these mushrooms so that the larvae feed on the fruiting bodies. Wherever the swarm lands, that’s where you need to dig.
Of these amazing mushrooms prepare various dishes for which gourmets are willing to pay any money.
One of the most expensive mushrooms in the world is the truffle mushroom. This is the rarest and delicious delicacy. The mushroom has an unusual taste.
Translated from Greek it means earthen cone. Since it resembles a small cone in appearance, you can verify it by looking at the photo of truffle mushrooms.
Description of truffle mushrooms
The size of the mushroom is small, the maximum size is about 10 cm. The outer surface is dark blue or bright black, which is covered with warts.
However, there are species that have an even and smooth surface layer.
There are two types of pulp:
- dense in a young fetus;
- loose in a mature mushroom.
The taste is reminiscent of a nut, sweetish, but very tasty. The aroma of the mushroom is associated with algae.
Types of mushrooms
There are many varieties of truffle mushrooms in the world. Let's look at the most popular types:
Summer. It grows in Russia, the ripening period falls on summer months. Its size can be 10 cm. Its taste is associated with nuts.
Ginger. Found in Europe and North America. On Russian territory grows in Siberia.
White. Distributed in France and Italy. White truffle is one of the most expensive and tastes like cheese with garlic. The size can be about 12 cm.
American. It grows only on the coast of the United States of America, mainly in the top layer of soil. Therefore, this type of mushroom has the taste of grass and flowers. Small in size, up to 5 cm.
Red. The bend is very small, does not grow more than 4 cm. Can be found in European countries. It tastes like coconut with wine.
Red shiny. Smaller in size than a red mushroom, approximately 3 cm in diameter. This truffle can be collected from May to August in deciduous forests. However, it is often possible to find in coniferous forests. It tastes like a mixture of wine, coconut and pear.
Where do they grow?
Many mushroom hunters wonder. Where do truffle mushrooms grow most often? As a rule, they grow in small groups of up to 7 pieces in forest areas.
Truffles are quite common in Russia. These are Crimea, Moscow, Samara, Orel, Vladimir and in many areas mainly in deciduous and displaced forests.
However, mushroom pickers have also found truffle mushrooms in coniferous forests.
It is growing in the Republic of Crimea winter truffle. It is collected from November to March. It grows up to 15 cm in size and weighs up to a kilogram. When added to food, it gives the dish a nutmeg flavor.
You can find truffle mushrooms underground near the roots of oak, beech or hornbeam.
Benefits of mushrooms
It has long been proven that truffles can be eaten by humans. We can prepare many different dishes from mushrooms. They can be stewed or added to sauce. Can be served as a separate dish. These mushrooms can be harvested for the winter. They are canned or frozen.
Truffle mushroom is rich in vitamins and various microelements. The composition contains vitamins such as B, PP, C. They increase the level of fiber and have a positive effect on a person’s emotional state.
Truffles can be used to make a juice that can be used to treat eye diseases.
There are no contraindications to consuming the mushroom. If only individual intolerance to the product. And so, the main thing is that the mushroom is fresh and processed, then you can eat it without fear of health.
Truffle cultivation
In many countries, the mushroom has long been grown under artificially created conditions. Since in natural environment extremely difficult to find mushroom.
In order for the mushroom to grow at home, certain conditions must be met:
- availability of the necessary trees;
- suitable soil;
- good weather conditions.
Growing truffles yourself is very expensive and the process takes a long time.
Artificially grown mushrooms differ in taste from those found in nature. And their cost is almost the same, due to the high costs.
Truffle mushroom is used in cosmetology. Italian cosmetologists add truffle extract to masks and creams that are intended for the skin of the face and hands.
Since they were able to prove that a cream based on truffle mushroom helps tighten the skin, remove age spots, and can also hide small expression wrinkles.
Photo of truffle
Most Russians are accustomed to calling truffles chocolate candies with a characteristic tart taste. However, these candies got their name due to their external resemblance to unusual mushrooms. The latter are considered expensive and are especially appreciated by gourmets. When searching for a delicacy, difficulties often arise because it grows at a depth of 15 cm. If you are interested in the question of where real ones grow in Russia expensive truffles, then you need to figure out what climatic conditions suit them.
What is a truffle
Truffles belong to the fungi of the marsupial genus, which have underground tuberous fleshy fruiting bodies. Unsightly appearance does not match them excellent taste and aroma. Once you try the delicacy, you will remember it for the rest of your life. He smells autumn forest: fallen leaves, earth, wet trees. Fresh truffles have a very strong aroma. Even if cooking is not your hobby, making truffles is easy.
The mushroom is located underground between the roots of beech, hornbeam, oak, birch, poplar, elm, linden, rowan, hawthorn and other trees. As it develops, it pulls everything vital from its roots. important elements without causing any harm to the tree. Truffles love deciduous, mixed forests, soil with lime. Ripening time - from late summer to late autumn. The standard size of mushrooms is 10-15 cm, their weight is up to 500 g. Plants are found in the Volga region, Moscow, Oryol, Vladimir, Samara, Leningrad regions, the Caucasus and the shores of the Black Sea.
What does a truffle mushroom look like?
The fruiting bodies are round, tuberous in shape and have a fleshy, cartilaginous consistency. If we talk about size, it varies from hazelnut to the potato tuber. On the outside, the fruiting bodies have a leathery layer called the peridium. It can be smooth, cracked, or covered with large polyhedral warts. If you cut the fruiting body, the tissue pattern will resemble marble. The shiny truffle inside has alternating light and dark veins: the light ones are called “internal veins”, the dark ones are called “external veins”.
Why truffle is the most expensive mushroom in the world
Truffles are called royal mushrooms - one of the most expensive. You can find sellers offering a kilo for over $4,000. The value of the product is explained by its rarity, unsurpassed taste and aroma. French and Italian have become famous throughout the world. There are two truffle capitals: Grignan and Aqualagna: the fruits are harvested here practically all year round: in autumn - white, in winter - black, in spring - banchetto, in summer - black summer.
White fruits are exquisite. They cannot be bred; they grow in very limited areas. For example, in Piedmont mushrooms are found only in Langhe, sometimes found in Monferrato, Roero, around Turin. The high price of such products is explained by in great demand and a small offer. They differ in seasonality; they are on sale from October to January (the price depends on the variety). The most expensive delicacy is white. One day, a product weighing 1.2 kg was put up and sold at an Italian auction, its price was 95,000 euros.
Do truffles grow in Russia?
Russian truffle is called black summer mushroom– Tuber aestivum (from Latin). They reach a diameter of 10 cm, weight is 400 g. Age is determined by the pulp: its color is whitish, yellow-brown, gray-brown. As the fruiting body ripens, its consistency changes: in young mushrooms it is dense, in old mushrooms it is loose. The taste of truffle is slightly sweet, the aroma is reminiscent of hazelnuts and seaweed. The delicacy is found in Europe, the western part of Russia, under pine, hazel, and oak trees. The fruits can be found from June to October.
Summer black (Tuber aestivum)
This type The fruits are usually called Saint-Jean, Scorzone, edible, Burgundy. The ripening period lasts all summer and ends in late autumn. Northern regions Russia has a different fruiting time - from mid-summer to November. Tuber aestivum is found at a depth of 3-15 cm. The fruits are located in groups or singly, form mycorrhiza with beeches, oaks, hornbeams, and are rarely located near birches and pines. They are often found in the southwest of Russia, on the Black Sea coast.
Winter black
The fruit is covered with warts 2-3 cm in size, its diameter reaches 20 cm. The fresh fruit has a reddish-violet tint on the outside, after harvesting the color darkens and becomes black. The truffle pulp is white, then turns gray and becomes gray-violet with many white, yellowish veins. The weight of such a fruit can be more than a kilogram. It often grows in Ukrainian, French, and Italian lands. Ideal places for plants – birch, oak groves, beech forests. Active fruiting - from November to March. The truffle aroma is reminiscent of musk.
White truffle
The price of the product is significantly higher than previous ones. Resembles Jerusalem artichoke tubers measuring 5-15 cm. Weight can be more than 1.5 kg. If you go for mature truffles, keep in mind that the surface of the mushroom is felt, while in young specimens it is smooth. When ripe, pits and protrusions appear on the outside, the color becomes light brown, yellowish. The pulp is white, in older fruits it is grayish with yellowish veins. The mushrooms have a nutty aroma. How older fruit, the stronger the smell. “Tubers” are found in Vladimir, Smolensk, and Kuibyshev forests from late July to early November.
Where does truffle grow in Russia?
If you are interested in where truffles grow in Russia, then go to the Volga region, Vladimir, Nizhny Novgorod, Oryol, Samara, Leningrad region countries. Maturation period - everything autumn months, fruiting time is late autumn - early winter. The fruits are small in size - about 15 cm, weigh up to 500 g, and grow at a depth of 10-15 cm.
The black variety is considered a summer delicacy. It is found in the Caucasus, on Black Sea coast, in the Moscow and Vladimir regions. Black specimens like to develop in deciduous and mixed forests with limestone soil, near the roots of oak, beech, hornbeam, hazel. The diameter of white fruits is up to 10 cm. Ripening and fruiting time is early summer - late autumn.
european part of Russia
Both black (Russian) and white (Polish) fruits are found. The first variety breeds on Podolsk, Belgorod, Tver, Leningrad soil. Voronezh forest is famous big amount delicacy. Near St. Petersburg, black mushrooms are rare, but white variety grows on Oryol and Tula lands. Remember that the warmer the climate, the greater the likelihood of finding a treat.
Caucasus and Crimea
These areas are known for their mild climate: there is everything for the active growth of the delicacy. There are many oak trees concentrated here, beech groves, which is favorable for the development of fungi. A large number are found on the Crimean land (steppe regions), the Northern and Western Caucasus, in North Ossetia- Alanya. It is worth highlighting Anapa, Gelendzhik, the village of Abrau-Dyurso, Western Caucasus: Adagum-Pshishsky district.
Delicacy mushrooms in Siberia
Many people, wondering where real expensive white truffles grow in Russia, do not suspect that the delicacy can grow on Siberian land. The delicacy was first discovered in these places in the 19th century. The fruits grow both singly and in groups; they like to be located in deciduous and coniferous forests. Many porcini mushrooms are found on Tomsk soil. IN Lately residents of the region began to collect fruits in kilograms, which is explained by favorable climatic conditions and active fruiting.
How to look for truffles
To find a truffle in the forest, you need to have special knowledge. They are found near tree roots: often found near oak trees. Try to look for fruits not in clearings. Based on practice, such areas are not distinguished by a large number of mushrooms. It is desirable that there be black soil with high humidity. Before you go searching, consider the following:
- Examine the fruits in advance, live or in photographs.
- Prepare to search for animals: specially trained pigs or dogs are suitable.
To " silent hunt"was successful, focus on some features of the area. The rules for mushroom picking are as follows:
- The “truffle” region, where the delicacy is located, is distinguished by stunted vegetation and gray-ashy soil.
- Mushrooms rarely appear on the soil surface (sometimes this happens due to strong wind or torrential rains), so look for them in the ground at a depth of 10-15 cm.
- Pay attention to the tubercles, they should be dug out.
- Midges often circle over a place with mushrooms: the larvae feed on mushrooms, so the insects lay eggs nearby.
Features of growth
A favorable place for the development of truffles is a large number of tree roots and loose soil with plenty of sand and lime. Experienced mushroom pickers say that if you find one specimen, then you need to continue looking for several more nearby. Typically, you can find about 5 pieces. Often truffle develops in families, rarely - alone.
Searching for truffles in the forest
Unusual mushrooms people have been collecting for many years. It is important to consider that there are false and real mushroom. To return home with the desired loot, it is important to follow special technology:
- Go to the forest where there are beeches, birches, oaks, and hazels.
- Look for fruits near trees with large roots.
- If the search is carried out with the help of pigs, then they should be muzzled, because the animals really love to feast on mushrooms.
- Keep in mind the type of plant: its surface is rough, the flesh has a hard structure. The fruits resemble potato tubers in black or white shades.
Truffle hunting animals
Mushrooms have a very strong odor, which animals can easily detect even from a distance. For this reason experienced mushroom pickers prefer to keep specially trained dogs or pigs. The latter are able to smell at a distance of 25 meters. Once the aroma is determined, the pig will actively dig for the delicacy. If there is no muzzle, then you need to make sure that the pig does not eat what you find.
As for dogs, they are indifferent to eating treats, so it is not necessary to put on a muzzle before searching. Before using these four-legged “sleuths,” it will take a long time to teach the rules of searching for mushrooms. The dog needs to be trained to smell. If you are planning to buy trained dog, then keep in mind that it costs more than 5,000 euros.
Growing truffles at home
The delicacy is grown at home. If you take into account the recommendations listed above, you will eventually get a great treat:
- It is first necessary to create a suitable microclimate, which should be the same in summer and winter. The mushroom does not like temperature changes.
- Start purchasing trees: oak, walnut, beech. The roots of the trees must be infected with truffle mycelium. The price of the version with disputes is 10-15 dollars.
- Choose places to plant trees: they should be protected from direct sun rays, wind, animals.
- Pay attention to the soil, it should be alkaline. If necessary, add lime to the soil.
- Do not use any fertilizers before planting trees because they may negatively affect the development of spores.
- Plant purchased trees only after cultivating and preparing the soil. It is advisable to do this in early spring when the weather outside is stable.
- Plant the tree in a 75 cm hole: pour water and only then place the plant in it.
The world is the white truffle. In terms of price and taste, it competes only with its black counterpart. Even in past centuries, only very wealthy people could afford to eat white truffles. Nowadays, not every restaurant can boast a permanent menu of these delicious mushrooms. Besides the beautiful taste qualities, they have one more interesting property. White truffle is a mushroom that is one of the most powerful aphrodisiacs in the world. Dumas also noted the miraculous properties of these mushrooms.
Truffles have a simply amazing aroma that allows animals to find them even under a layer of soil. From a culinary point of view, one can simply talk endlessly about the properties of these mushrooms. They harmonize wonderfully with various dishes and are able to turn ordinary food into a delight for connoisseurs. These mushrooms are most often consumed raw or dried. This allows you to better feel their indescribable taste and aroma.
Description
The white truffle is an underground mushroom. Its fruiting body has several irregular shape. In appearance, it resembles a tuber of Jerusalem artichoke or potato. The weight of a mature specimen can reach 1.5 kg. However, there were also individuals with greater mass. The diameter of the white truffle, as a rule, reaches 15-20 cm. At the base it has a slight narrowing. When dried, the volume of the mushroom decreases several times. Young specimens are covered with whitish, smooth skin. Over time, it darkens, becomes covered with tubercles and cracks. The flesh of the mushroom is quite dense and dry to the touch. In young truffles it is white with a marbled tint and yellow veins (they contain reservoirs with spores). Old specimens have dark flesh with brown streaks. White truffle has a very strong specific aroma. A photo of this mushroom can be seen in this article. Appearance macromycetes may vary slightly depending on the region of growth.
Truffles grow in forests of coniferous, deciduous and mixed type. They can be found in loose, well-warmed and moderately moist soils with not very developed grass cover. Most often they are found in birch and aspen forests, near hazel bushes, as well as in young plantings of spruce and pine trees. They are collected in August-September. Only white truffles are found in Russian forests. Although there is information about the presence of blacks.
Animals are used to search for truffles. As a rule, these are dogs and pigs (boars). They can smell and find a mushroom even under a layer of soil. In boars, for unknown reasons, the aroma of these mushrooms is associated with the smell of a female, and they are able to smell a target at a distance of about 10 m. However, when hunting truffles with pigs, you need to be careful. If a boar finds a mushroom, he will not hesitate to dig it up and eat it. Therefore, they are often muzzled. Truffles are also searched for with dogs (females). They are specially trained to do this from the first months of life. First they are given milk with a decoction of mushrooms. When the puppy grows up, they begin to train him in room conditions. They hide somewhere (under scraps of fabric, etc.) a piece of wood rubbed with truffle, and force the dog to look for it by smell. Success is rewarded with delicious food. As the dog gets older, training moves into the yard, into the vegetable garden, and then into the forest.
White truffle - the most expensive mushroom in the world
Two thousand dollars for a little more than a kilogram of mushrooms sounds like “unreasonably expensive.”
But these are not just mushrooms. Truffles: their very name is already synonymous with luxury.
These delicacies belong to those rare seasonal products
which can only be enjoyed for a short period of time once a year.
But it is not main reason high cost of unique mushrooms.
Truffles are a genus of delicious mushrooms with underground marsupial tuberous fruits.
There are hundreds of varieties of truffles, but the most expensive are black truffles from Périgord in France and white ones from Umbria and Piedmont in Italy.
Black truffles (French, summer, Perigord) grow in the ground near oak and birch trees. Black-brown on the outside, these mushrooms are red-brown on the inside. They are distinguished by a strong, persistent, distinctive and very distinct aroma and slightly nutty taste.
White truffle (Italian, Piedmontese) - more rare view, than black, therefore it is most valued among mushrooms. Externally it is similar to Jerusalem artichoke, has a brown peel and light flesh with red veins. White truffles have an even more distinct aroma than dark ones.
Truffle harvests can vary greatly from year to year. By far the best truffles will always have high price, but in years of poor harvest the price can double or even triple.
The high cost of these mushrooms is due to the specific conditions for their growth, the method of their collection, storage and, of course, their refined taste and aroma.
When they grow
Truffles have a fairly short season. For black truffles this is from November to March, and for white truffles it is from late autumn to early winter. As a rule, the collection of white truffles in Italy begins in October.
The length of the season cannot but influence the price of the product. Accordingly, fresh truffles are most valued at this time - many restaurants announce the beginning of the season and create a special menu for tasting the delicacy.
This year, the white truffle harvest season officially opened in Italian Piedmont at the end of September. Thanks to favorable weather conditions, experts predict a large harvest of truffles of excellent quality, which should surpass the 2012 harvest.
How are they collected?
Collecting truffles is a complex process that requires great care and lengthy preparation. Truffles grow one at a time, each club is separate and must be removed from the root of the tree so as not to damage it. Looking for places with earth mushrooms pigs sensitive to their smell. Specially trained dogs are also used for this.
Preparing animals for such an activity takes considerable time, since they must not only find a place, but also carefully dig valuable mushrooms without damaging them and the tree root.
This archaic harvesting practice gives truffles their special charm. The exclusivity of the product is also due to the fact that it cannot be obtained in any other way.
Despite the fact that they are trying to grow black truffles on farms, in particular in China, such a product still does not have those exceptional qualities inherent only in wild mushrooms collected in unique conditions using a special method. White truffles cannot be grown on farms at all.
How are they stored?
At the truffles short term shelf life, therefore, in order to appreciate the uniqueness of the taste, they should be tried fresh. Because of this, during the season, truffles are sold out quite quickly, restaurants often even start a race for the freshest mushrooms, and connoisseurs flock to Italy or France at this time to enjoy the rare local delicacy as soon as possible.
Despite this, truffles can still be stored for some time. Some people store them in oil to later use to complement other foods. They are also sometimes stored in rice, which later turns into a unique risotto. In addition, they can be frozen.
How they are prepared
Gourmets and cooks around the world agree that there are few foods that can match the taste experience of fresh truffle.
Wherein unique mushrooms in cooking they are universal, they can be used to prepare many dishes. But truffles show their best qualities with a neutral addition that does not overshadow their unique aroma.
Truffles are used as a filling, for sauces, added to rice dishes, eggs, and pastas, finely chopped on a special grater.
Recipe: Ravioli with ricotta and truffle
INGREDIENTS:
300 g flour
- 150 g eggs (three small eggs)
- 300 g ricotta
- 50 g mint
- salt pepper
- 100 g grated pecorino cheese
- 80 g butter
- 15 g truffle
PREPARATION:
Cooking time: 30 min. Number of servings: 4
1. Knead the dough well, adding a little water to the flour and eggs. Roll out thinly and cut out circles with a mold (about 5 cm in diameter).
Use only fresh ingredients to prepare the dish. Garnish the ravioli with mint leaves and sprinkles olive oil extra-virgin
2. Combine ricotta (if it has moisture, let it drain well), pecorino, pepper and mint leaves. Spoon the filling onto the center of the dough circles and form ravioli (in the shape of a semicircle, like dumplings, but not so densely filled). Pinch the ravioli very well and place them on a floured plate. Boil salted water, place the ravioli in it and remove them as soon as they float. Let them drain well and serve immediately. butter and thin slices of truffle.
Bon appetit!
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