It’s no secret that we love Italian truffles. So many dishes can be enhanced by the addition of a few slivers of delicate truffle with its unique earthy fragrance. However, the popularity of fresh truffles compared with their limited availability means that a whole industry of truffle-flavored products has sprung up. These are just not the same as the real deal, so we want people to understand and appreciate the different Italian truffles out there – even if this means only getting to enjoy them occasionally!
An Introduction to Italian Truffles
Truffles are a type of fungi that grow underground, generally around tree roots. While they grow in other parts of the world, Italy is undeniably one of the best places to source truffles from. Truffles love humid but cooler environments, and the climate of regions like Piemonte, Tuscany, Emilia-Romagna and Abruzzo is perfect. The Italian white truffles from Alba are at the top of the truffle scale, high in demand in the culinary world with prices to match.
A delicacy since the time of the ancient Romans, truffles have remained a special treat. Despite many attempts, it is almost impossible to farm truffles – only limited cultivation in dedicated forests has been achieved. Even then, truffle hunters never know how many truffles they will find each season, or the size of those truffles.
The other reason truffles are so special, and have prices to reflect this, is the way they are harvested. Specially trained dogs are used to sniff out potential truffles underground, signalling to their handlers that they have found one. In the past pigs were used (as they also have an excellent sense of smell) but it was almost impossible to prevent the pigs from eating some of the truffles!
There are many truffle species found across Italy, with their own distinctive appearance and flavor, as well as their own growing season. Luckily for us, this means that truffle enthusiasts can enjoy fresh Italian truffles almost all year round.
Truffle-Flavor Products
A note on truffle flavored items before we get into the different truffle types. It’s now common to see stores and stalls selling truffle-related products in many places in Italy, including truffle oil, truffle flavored vinegar, truffle creams, honey, spirits and more. However the vast majority of these do not feature any fresh truffles at all. Truffle oil in particular is often made with an artificial flavoring and pieces of cheap truffle to make it look “real”.
For us, we prefer to occasionally splurge on the real thing and savor it, rather than replace the experience with a pale imitation of the complex flavor of fresh truffles.
Italian Black Truffles
The black truffle is the most well-known truffle type, but there are lots of variations within this category. Black truffles are also more widely available, so the prices are lower compared with white truffle prices (although still not what we would call cheap!).
Black truffles also hold up better to cooking, with a few minutes in the pan before serving ideal to bring out the best of their flavor. A classic mushroom risotto finished with black truffle is divine, as are buttery pasta noodles topped with shavings of truffle. Black truffle skins are slightly rougher so if you prefer a smooth finish, you can delicately peel them before shaving – make sure to save the peels to use for sauces or stock.
Here are some of our favorite Italian black truffles to look for:
Tartufo Nero Pregiato
Also known as the tartufo di Norcia or Périgord truffles (after the main region in France where they are found), this is one of the most delicious black truffles. Pregiato in Italian means precious, and the exquisite flavor of this truffle means that prices are on the higher side.
The name is slightly misleading as the color is more brown/red, but don’t let this put you off. The best examples are found in Umbria, but they are also harvested in Marche, Abruzzo and the Piedmont region.
If you’d like to try these truffles, they are harvested between mid-November and early March, making them a true winter truffle.
Tartufo Nero d’Inverno – Black Winter Truffle
If the prices of the Pregiato truffle are too much, try looking for the Nero d’Inverno instead. Harvested around the same time period, the flavor is bolder and more persistent so holds up very well to hearty winter dishes.
The truffles themselves do not tend to be that big in size and are more of a true black color, with grey and white veins inside.
Tartufo Nero Uncinato
This is one of the more widespread black truffles in Italy, growing as far south as Lazio and Campania as well as the cooler northern regions.
It has a more hardy exterior and holds up better to preservation, which is great as the flavor of these truffles is particularly special. Less mushroom-led and more notes of parmesan cheese and hazelnuts, the Uncinato has an almost creamy taste which makes them perfect to use with lots of dishes.
This is a fall truffle, being harvested between October and December, and thanks to its popularity across Italy is fairly easy to find.
Tartufo Scorzone – Summer Black Truffle
As the name suggests, this truffle is harvested in the summer months through to October. The flavor is more delicate and less intense than the fall and winter black truffles, so it is better suited to being used raw or in more simple dishes.
Like the Uncinato, the Scorzone is found in lots of places across Italy so is also not as expensive as other varieties. If you’re in Italy during the summer and get offered truffles, chances are it will be Scorzone if it’s fresh.
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White Truffles from Italy
Tasting white truffle is something truly special. Even if you’ve had black truffle and truffle-flavored dishes before, the aroma and taste of white truffle is on another level.
Scarcity makes white truffles more expensive and sought after. Luckily, only a few shavings on top of a dish is enough to make the whole plate sing.
White truffles, especially those from Alba, are priced by weight, so if a restaurant is offering to add some shavings to your food, make sure to check how much they are charging for this. We have heard of more than one person being caught out by this and ending up with a much larger bill than they anticipated!
Here are some of the white Italian truffles you can try:
Tartufo Bianco d’Alba – The Alba White Truffle
We have to start with the most prized white truffle, the Alba white truffle. Alba is a town in Piemonte in northern Italy, also famous for excellent wine making, where the surrounding countryside holds the ideal truffle growing conditions.
The limited area where they grow combined with the fact Alba truffles are rare finds, means that the prices are very high – average prices are around 300€ per 100 grams. At the annual Alba truffle fair people come from all over the world to barter on the white truffle market, which is a fun experience to see even if you can’t join in!
Harvested from October through to January, the white truffle is always served raw in thin shaved slices, as cooking it would ruin the delicate flavor. More earthy and garlicky than black truffles, there is a reason truffle hunters spend a lot of time trying to find them.
Tartufo Bianchetto
Also known as the Tartufo Marzuolo, this white truffle is a more affordable version if the Alba truffle is out of reach. Less white in appearance, the exterior is more reddish-brown but inside are large white veins.
Bianchetto truffles don’t grow that large and are more widespread across Italy, so the prices are much lower compared to the Alba white truffle. The flavor is also more intense so you don’t need much, and as you can serve them raw or cooked, they are more versatile.
Helpfully the Bianchetto also extend the white truffle season, as the start of their harvest season is the end of the Alba season. You can find fresh truffles between January and April, so they are also sometimes called the spring truffle.
Join Us On a Truffle Hunt
While getting to try different truffles at a restaurant is fantastic, one of the most rewarding experiences we think you can have is to go truffle hunting for yourself.
Italian truffle hunters are dedicated to their craft, spending years honing their talents, finding the best spots to return to each year and training their dogs to find truffles. Joining them as they share some of this knowledge and take you along as they seek out the best black and white truffle they can is absolutely fascinating.
If you’d like to have this experience for yourself, join us in the atmospheric hills of Piemonte near Alba. Meet the adorable dogs and discover what it’s like for the truffle hunters who spend so much time here, some of the secrets of truffle hunting and much more! Check out more details here or get in touch so we can arrange a custom truffle experience just for you.
