The truffle is a unique type of fungus that grows entirely underground and is quite rare. Because of this rarity, truffles are also very expensive. Truffles have a distinct taste that could not be associated with anything else for its similarity. Once abundant in France, the forest of truffles is diminishing day by day due to numerous activities such as deforestation, etc. Truffle hunting is a highly sought-after activity that involves a lot of research on the area of the forest where it is found and these hunts are generally guided hunts organized by resorts and hotels or even private tourist companies. The peculiarity of these hunts is that very often and almost always a dog trained to search for truffles is accompanied to find the exact location of the truffle which is underground. The truffle has a special relationship with the tree which provides the fungus with the necessary sugars, nutrients and other minerals. The best truffles can be found on hazelnut or oak trees.
The best truffles can be found in southern Europe, where the climate and temperature provide an ideal breeding ground for this fungus. Truffles can also be found in North America and parts of Asia, also extending as far as Switzerland, but the quality of truffles from southern Europe is not comparable. Tuscany in Italy is one of the best places for truffles because of its moderate temperatures and unique ecology. The region of Umbria, in Italy, is also a paradise for truffles, especially in the countryside. In northern Italy, the Piedmont region, which borders France and Switzerland and lies at the foot of the Alps, is another heaven for white truffles which grows only in the autumn and winter months of September to January. The Montferrat valley, in the Piedmont region of Italy, is the natural breeding ground for the rare white truffles which is a palate stimulator.
In Switzerland during the winters, another rare species of truffle is found, the Swiss black truffle, is once again an absolute treasure. If you are in Geneva, the breeding ground of the black truffle, do your best to grab the opportunity to hunt for these unique truffles. In the Dordogne valley in the south of France, the truffle harvest is at its best. The Causses du Quercy Regional Nature Park, located in the Massif Central in the south of France, is home to the black diamond truffle. Although these regions of France are isolated, once there you will not miss the opportunity to go on a truffle hunt as there are many organized hunts available.
Now let's go to the mountainous city of Teruel, in eastern Spain, which is the largest producer of black truffles, also considered to be of very high quality. Owing to the quality of its soil and its oak forests, Teruel is one of the best places for the breeding of truffles. Among the few natural truffle breeding areas, there is also the Istria region in Croatia. The forests of Istria in Croatia are home to black and white truffles. In Istria, you can hunt for truffles in many of the family estates that have truffle forests.
The peculiarity of the truffle is that it is never cooked or steamed, but shaved or grated into pasta, fries or whatever it is you want to use it for. The French have called the truffle the "diamond of the kitchen". Due to the difficulty of finding it, its limited natural cultivation process and its rarity in general, the truffle has become one of the most exclusive and expensive foods in the world. Anyway, now that you know the natural habitats in which truffles grow, go on a truffle hunt and get those truffles to revel in!
