Truffle
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Fungi Division: Ascomycota Subphylum: Pezizomycotina Class: Pezizomycetes Order: Pezizales Family: Tuberaceae Genus: Tuber
Species
Tuber aestivum Tuber brumale Tuber gibbosum Tuber himalayensis Tuber magnatum Tuber melanosporum Tuber mesentericum Tuber oregonense Tuber sinensis Species Tuber melanosporum Tuber brumale Tuber aestivum Tuber uncinatum Tuber mesentericum Tuber magnatum Truffle describes a group of edible mycorrhizal (symbiotic relationship between fungus and plant) fungi (genus Tuber, class Ascomycetes, division Ascomycota). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2272x1704, 2091 KB) Summary Photo taken by Poppy in January 2006. ... For other uses, see Scientific classification (disambiguation). ... For the fictional character, see Fungus the Bogeyman. ... Subphyla/Classes Archaeascomycetes Euascomycetes Hemiascomycetes or Pezizomycotina Laboulbeniomycetes Eurotiomycetes Lecanoromycetes Leotiomycetes Pezizomycetes Sordariomycetes Dothideomycetes (and many more) Saccharomycotina Saccharomycetes Taphrinomycotina Neolectomycetes Pneumocystidomycetes Schizosaccharomycetes Taphrinomycetes The Ascomycota, formerly known as the Ascomycetae, or Ascomycetes, are a Division of Fungi, whose members are commonly known as the Sac Fungi, which produce spores... Classes Arthoniomycetes Chaetothyriomycetes Dothideomycetes Eurotiomycetes Laboulbeniomycetes Lecanoromycetes Leotiomycetes Orbiliomycetes Pezizomycetes Sordariomycetes mitosporic Pezizomycotina Pezizomycotina is a subphylum of the Ascomycota and was previously called the Euascomycota. ... Pezizomycetes are a subphylum of the phylum Ascomycota within the kingdom Fungi. ... Families Ascobolaceae Helvellaceae Morchellaceae Otidiaceae Pezizaceae Pyronemataceae Sarcoscyphaceae Thelebolaceae Tuberaceae Pezizales is a class of the subphylum Pezizomycotina within the phylum Ascomycota. ... A Tuberacae truffle refers to a fungus that grows attatched to the root system of an oak tree in the mediterranean Europe. ...

The true truffles are a group of several valuable and highly sought-after edible species of underground ascomycetes belonging to the fungal genus Tuber. All are ectomycorrhizal and are therefore found in close association with trees. Basidiocarps of Amanita muscaria. ... Classes Archaeascomycetes Hemiascomycetes Euascomycetes Neolectomycetes Pezizomycotina Pneumocystidomycetes Saccharomycotina Schizosaccharomycetes Taphrinomycetes mitosporic Ascomycota Members of the Division Ascomycota are known as the Sac Fungi and are fungi that produce spores in a distinctive type of microscopic sporangium called an ascus (Greek for a bag or wineskin). This monophyletic grouping was formerly... For the fictional character, see Fungus the Bogeyman. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... A mycorrhiza (typically seen in the plural forms mycorrhizae or mycorrhizas, Greek for fungus roots) is the result of a mutualistic association between a fungus and a plant. ...

The ascoma (fruiting body) of truffles is highly prized as food. It has a smell similar to deep-fried sunflower seeds or walnuts, though not all people are able to catch the odor of this fungus. The water after soaking truffles can taste a bit like soy sauce. Brillat-Savarin called the truffle "the diamond of the kitchen" and praised its aphrodisiacal powers. While the aphrodisiacal characteristics of truffles have not been established, it is still held in high esteem in French, northern Italian and Istrian cooking, and in international haute cuisine. white truffle washed and cut Truffle describes a group of edible mycorrhizal (subterranean) mushrooms (genus Tuber, class Ascomycetes, division Mycota). ... Mushroom In fungi, the fruiting body (also known as sporocarp) is a multicellular structure on which spore-producing structures, such as basidia or asci, are borne. ... The sunflower seed is the seed of the sunflower (Helianthus annuus). ... For other uses, see Walnut (disambiguation). ... Aroma redirects here. ... Impact from a water drop causes an upward rebound jet surrounded by circular capillary waves. ... Binomial name Glycine max Soybeans (US) or soya beans (UK) (Glycine max) are a high-protein legume (Family Fabaceae) grown as food for both humans and livestock. ... Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (April 1, 1755, Belley, France - February 2, 1826, Paris), a French lawyer and politician, was quite possibly the most famous French epicure and gastronome of all. ... This article is about agents which increase sexual desire. ... Istria (Croatian and Slovenian: Istra, Venetian and Italian: Istria), formerly Histria (Latin), is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. ... Haute cuisine (literally high cooking in French) or grande cuisine refers to the cooking of the grand restaurants and hotels of the western world. ...

The origin of the word truffle appears to lie in the Latin term tuber, meaning "lump", which early on became tufer- and gave rise to the various European terms: French Truffe, Spanish Trufa, German Trüffel, and Dutch Truffel. The German word Kartoffel ("potato") derives from (now archaic) Italian tartufo (truffle) because of superficial similarities.^[1] For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ...

Biology

Strictly speaking, the true truffles are those several species of the genus Tuber; however, the term has been applied to several other genera of underground fungi around the world. These include the genera Terfezia and Tirmania of the family Terfeziaceae, known as the Desert truffles of Africa and the Middle East. The term "Hart's truffle" has been used to refer to Elaphomyces while "Bohemian truffle" has been used to describe Pisolithus tinctorius, which was historically eaten in parts of Germany.^[2] Genera Terfezia Tirmania Mattirolomyces The Terfeziaceae, or desert truffles, is a family of truffles endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean Region, North Africa, and the Middle East, where they are live in ectomycorrhizal association with Helianthemum species. ... Genera Terfezia Tirmania Mattirolomyces The Terfeziaceae, or desert truffles, is a family of truffles endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean Region, North Africa, and the Middle East, where they are live in ectomycorrhizal association with Helianthemum species. ... [[:Template:Taxobox]] The Terfeziaceae, or desert truffles, is a family of truffles endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean Region, North Africa, and the Middle East, where they are live in ectomycorrhizal association with Helianthemum species. ... Binomial name Pisolithus tinctorius Known in Australia as the horse dung fungus and in Europe as the Bohemian truffle, Pisolithus tinctorius is a widespread earth-ball like fungus, which may in fact be several closely related species. ...

True truffles form symbiotic relationships with several varieties of deciduous trees, including oak, beech, hazel and poplar, but cannot be found on maples or cedars. They flourish throughout the autumn, winter and spring, and can be found buried between the fallen leaves and twigs and the soil. Common Clownfish (Amphiprion ocellaris) in their Magnificent Sea Anemone (Heteractis magnifica) home. ... For other uses, see Deciduous (disambiguation). ... Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus (from Latin oak tree), and some related genera, notably Cyclobalanopsis and Lithocarpus. ... For other uses, see Beech (disambiguation). ... This article is about the tree; for other meanings of hazel, see Hazel (disambiguation). ... This article is about woody plants of the genus Populus. ...

Their growth beneath the earth's surface is thought to be an adaptation to forest fires, drought, or severe cold, where the mushrooms on the surface of the soil are more prone to destruction.

Black truffle

Black Périgord Truffle

The Black truffle or Black Périgord Truffle (Tuber melanosporum) is named for the Périgord region in France and grows exclusively with oak. Specimens can be found in late autumn and winter, reaching 7cm in diameter and weighing 100g though usually weigh less.^[3] Production is almost exclusively European, with France accounting for 45%, Spain 35%, Italy 20%, and small amounts from Slovenia and Croatia. In 1900, France produced around 1,000 metric tonnes (1,100 short tons) of Tuber melanosporum. Production has considerably diminished in the past century, and is presently around 20 metric tonnes (22 short tons) per year, with peaks at 46 metric tonnes (50 short tons) in the best years. 80% of the French production comes from southeast France: upper-Provence (départements of Vaucluse and Alpes-de-Haute-Provence), part of Dauphiné (département of Drôme), and part of Languedoc (département of Gard); 20% of the production comes from southwest France: Quercy (département of Lot) and Périgord. The largest truffle market in France (and probably also in the world) is at Richerenches in Vaucluse. The largest truffle market in southwest France is at Lalbenque in Quercy. These markets are busiest in the month of January when the black truffles have their highest perfume. Black truffles on these markets sell between €200 and 600 per kilogram ($280–$840 per pound), depending on the quantity and quality of the harvest. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 257 KB) Other versions Truffe01. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1600x1200, 257 KB) Other versions Truffe01. ... Périgord (   pronunciation?) is a former province of France, corresponding to the current Dordogne département, now forming the northern part of the Aquitaine région. ... Species See List of Quercus species The term oak can be used as part of the common name of any of several hundred species of trees and shrubs in the genus Quercus (from Latin oak tree), and some related genera, notably Cyclobalanopsis and Lithocarpus. ... The short ton is a unit of mass equal to 907. ... Coat of arms of Provence Provence (Provençal Occitan: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) was a Roman province and now is a region of southeastern France on the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to Italy. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to British counties. ... The Vaucluse is a département in the southeast of France. ... Alpes_de_Haute_Provence is a French département in the south of France, it was formerly part of the province of Provence. ... Flag of the Dauphiné Dauphiné (Occitan : Daufinat, Arpitan : Dôfenâ, archaic English: ), usually referred to as the Dauphiné, is a former province in southeastern France, roughly corresponding to the present departments of the Isère (Isera), Drôme (Drôma), and Hautes-Alpes (Hiôtas-Arpes). ... Drôme is a département in southeastern France named after the Drôme River. ... For the language called Langue doc, see Occitan language. ... Gard (Occitan: Gard) is a department located in southern France in the Languedoc-Roussillon region. ... Coat of arms of the lordship of Quercy Quercy (pronounced in French;  ) (Occitan: Carcin, pronounced , locally ) is a former province of France located in the southwest of France, bounded on the north by Limousin, on the west by Périgord and Agenais, on the south by Gascony and Languedoc, and... Lot is a département in the southwest of France named after the Lot River. ... Périgord (   pronunciation?) is a former province of France, corresponding to the current Dordogne département, now forming the northern part of the Aquitaine région. ... Richerenches is a commune of the Vaucluse département, in France. ... The Vaucluse is a département in the southeast of France. ... Lalbenque is a commune of the Lot département, in France. ... Coat of arms of the lordship of Quercy Quercy (pronounced in French;  ) (Occitan: Carcin, pronounced , locally ) is a former province of France located in the southwest of France, bounded on the north by Limousin, on the west by Périgord and Agenais, on the south by Gascony and Languedoc, and... For other uses, see Euro (disambiguation). ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ...

White truffle

White truffle washed and cut

The White truffle or Alba Truffle (Tuber magnatum) comes from the Langhe area of the Piedmont region in northern Italy and, most famously, in the countryside around the city of Alba. It is also found in Croatia, on the Istria peninsula in the Motovun forest alongside Mirna river ^[4]. Growing symbiotically with oak, hazel, poplar and beech and fruiting in autumn, they can reach 12cm diameter and 500g, though are usually much smaller. The flesh is pale cream or brown with white marbling.^[3] Like the French black truffles, Italian white truffles are very highly esteemed (illustration, right). The white truffle market in Alba is busiest in the months of October and November. The Tuber magnatum truffles sell between 200€ and 400€ per hectogram ($1000 - $2000 per pound). In 2007, due to devaluations of the dollar, white truffles were selling at $3000 - $4000 per pound. They produce a scent that mimics a male pig sex hormone, and for this reason, female pigs have been used historically in Europe to help find truffles. However, more recently, dogs have become preferred for truffle hunting since they can be trained to just find the truffles whereas sows eat the truffles as soon as they find them. Download high resolution version (855x689, 132 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Download high resolution version (855x689, 132 KB) Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... The Langhe is the an hilly area in southern Piedmont, Italy. ... For other uses, see Piedmont (disambiguation). ... Alba is town of Piedmont, Italy, in the province of Cuneo. ... Istria (Croatian and Slovenian: Istra, Venetian and Italian: Istria), formerly Histria (Latin), is the largest peninsula in the Adriatic Sea. ... Motovun (Croatia) City of Motovun Motovun from the South Motovun (Italian: Montona dIstria) is a town in central Istria, Croatia. ... For other uses, see Pig (disambiguation). ...

The record price paid for a single white truffle was set in December 2007, when Macau casino owner Stanley Ho paid $330,000 (£165,000) for a specimen weighing 1.5kg (3.3lb). One of the largest truffles found in decades, it was unearthed near Pisa and sold at an auction held simultaneously in Macau, London and Florence.^[5] Look up December in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Stanley Ho, GBS (born November 25, 1921), also known as Ho Hung-sun, Stanley Ho Hung-sun (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), is an entrepreneur in Hong Kong and Macau. ... Leaning Tower of Pisa. ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... This article is about the city in Italy. ...

The Tuber magnatum pico White truffle is mostly found in northern and central Italy, while the Tuber borchi, or Whitish truffle, is found in Tuscany, Romagna and the Marche. Neither of these is as aromatic as those from Piedmont.^[3] For other uses, see Tuscany (disambiguation). ... Emilia-Romagna is an administrative region of Northern Italy comprising the two historic regions of Emilia and Romagna. ... // The Marche (plural, originally le marche de Ancona = the Marches of Ancona) are a region of Central Italy, bordering Emilia-Romagna north, Tuscany to the north-west, Umbria to west, Abruzzo and Latium to the south and the Adriatic Sea to the east. ...

Chinese truffle

The Chinese truffle (Tuber sinensis, also sometimes called Tuber indicum) is mass harvested in China. It resembles Tuber melanosporum, but its taste is bland, and its texture is chewy. Due to their low price, Chinese truffles are often exported to the West, but they should not be confused with Tuber melanosporum. Some truffle exporters or delicatessen shops sell Chinese truffles into which extracts of the real Tuber melanosporum are introduced. These fraudulent truffles are sold at a high price, pretending they are real Tuber melanosporum. Such practices are illegal, but unfortunately quite frequent. Another type of Chinese truffle is the Tuber himalayensis, which visually looks so much like the Tuber melanosporum that a microscope is needed to differentiate them, but whose taste is not as intense as the Tuber melanosporum. The Tuber himalayensis, however, is harvested in very small quantities in the Chinese Himalayas, and is not as frequently met on world markets as the Tuber sinensis. The third type of Chinese truffle is the Chinese summer white truffle,which does not yet have a scientific name. This truffle should not be confused with the much more expensive Italian Tuber magnatum. Perspective view of the Himalaya and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ...

Black Summer Truffle (in Italian:Tartufi Neri Estivi) in a shop window in Rome, Italy

Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 598 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,956 × 1,462 pixels, file size: 1. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 598 pixelsFull resolution‎ (1,956 × 1,462 pixels, file size: 1. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ...

Summer truffle

The Black Summer Truffle (Tuber aestivum/unicinatum) thrives in northern Italy, central Europe and the UK but also grows in Turkey and North Africa. It is highly valued for its culinary uses and costs up to $670 a pound. Summer truffles do not have as strong an aroma or taste as winter truffles do. They are mainly harvested from June to November . These truffles grow in symbiosis with trees such as oaks, hazels and beech. They can weigh up to 20-30 g, and their shape is generally round, up to 4 cm diameter.^[3] For other uses, see Beech (disambiguation). ...

Other species

Two lesser-used truffles include the Black truffle (Tuber macrosporum) and the Scorzone truffle (Tuber mesentericum). In the Pacific Northwest, several species of truffle are harvested both recreationally and commercially, most notably, the Oregon white truffles, Tuber oregonense and Tuber gibbosum. The Pacific Northwest from space The Pacific Northwest, abbreviated PNW, or PacNW is a region in the northwest of North America. ...

Truffle oil

Contrary to popular belief, and even the belief of most restaurant chefs, the New York Times recently reported that most truffle oil does not, in fact, contain any truffles. The reality is that the vast majority of truffle oil is actually olive oil containing a synthetic flavoring agent whose chemical name is "2,4-dithiapentane". Indeed, Daniel Patterson reported in the New York Times on May 16, 2007 that "[e]ven now, you will find chefs who are surprised to hear that truffle oil does not actually come from real truffles." Nevertheless, many chefs continue to use synthetic truffle oil, which is inexpensive, because they consider it to be "a reasonable substitute." For the Popeye character, see Olive Oyl. ... IUPAC nomenclature is a system of naming chemical compounds and of describing the science of chemistry in general. ...

History

Antiquity

The first mention of truffles appears in the writings of Theophrastus in the fourth century BC. In classical times their origins were a mystery which challenged many; Plutarch and others thought them the result of lightning, warmth and water in the soil, while Juvenal thought thunder and rain to be instrumental in their origin. Cicero deemed them children of the earth, while Dioscorides thought they were tuberous roots.^[2] Theophrastus (Greek Θεόφραστος, 370 — about 285 BC), a native of Eressos in Lesbos, was the successor of Aristotle in the Peripatetic school. ... Mestrius Plutarchus (Greek: Πλούταρχος; 46 - 127), better known in English as Plutarch, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist. ... Woodcut of Juvenal from the Nuremberg Chronicle Decimus Iunius Iuvenalis, Anglicized as Juvenal, was a Roman satiric poet of the late 1st century and early 2nd century. ... For other uses, see Cicero (disambiguation). ... Pedanius Dioscorides (ca. ...

Italy in the Classical Period produced two kinds of truffles: the Tuber melanosporum and the Tuber magnatum. The Romans, however, only used the terfez (Terfezia bouderi), a fungus of similar appearance which the Romans called truffles, and which is sometimes called "desert truffle". Terfez used in Rome came from Lesbos, Carthage, and especially Libya, where the coastal climate was less dry in ancient times.^[2] Their substance is pale, tinged with rose. Unlike truffles, terfez have no taste of their own. The Romans used the terfez as a carrier of flavor, because the terfez have the property to absorb surrounding flavors. Indeed, Roman cuisine used many spices and flavors, and terfez were perfect in that context. Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... [[:Template:Taxobox]] The Terfeziaceae, or desert truffles, is a family of truffles endemic to arid and semi-arid areas of the Mediterranean Region, North Africa, and the Middle East, where they are live in ectomycorrhizal association with Helianthemum species. ... Lesbos may refer to: Lesbos Island, a large Greek island in the Aegean Sea Lesbos Prefecture, the Greek prefecture that contains the island Slang word for Lesbians. ... For other uses, see Carthage (disambiguation). ... Still life with fruit basket and vases (Pompeii, ca. ...

Islam

It is narrated in a hadith - Sahih Muslim - that Muhammad said "Truffles are (a kind of) 'Manna' which Allah (God), the Exalted the Majestic, sent to the people of Israel through [Moses], and its juice is a medicine for the eyes."^[6] Terfezia was the main truffle consumed in the Middle East historically, and Ludovico di Varthema, in his Travels (1503-08), wrote of great quantities of them being sold, having been harvested in the mountains of Armenia and Turkey. Sahih Muslim (Arabic: صحيح مسلم, ṣaḥīḥ muslim) is one of the Sunni Six Major Hadith collections, collected by Imam Muslim. ... Muhammad in a new genre of Islamic calligraphy started in the 17th century by Hafiz Osman. ... Allah is the Arabic language word for God. ... Dutch title page of Varthemas book Itinerario, 1654 Ludovico di Varthema (also Barthema, Vertomannus) from Bologna (c. ...

Middle Ages

Truffles were rarely used during the Middle Ages. The only trace of truffles in Medieval cooking is at the court of the popes in Avignon. Black and subterranean truffles were probably considered satanic and thus avoided, but the popes discovered them when they relocated to Avignon, near the producing regions of upper-Provence, and they became very fond of them. Truffle hunting is mentioned by Bartolomeo Platina the papal historian in 1481, when he recorded that the sows of Notza were without equal in hunting truffles, however they should be muzzled to prevent them from eating the prize.^[7] The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ... City flag City coat of arms Location Coordinates Time Zone CET (GMT +1) Administration Country France Région Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur Département Vaucluse (préfecture) Arrondissement Avignon Canton Chief town of 4 cantons Intercommunality Communauté dagglomération du Grand Avignon Mayor Marie-Josée Roig... Coat of arms of Provence Provence (Provençal Occitan: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) was a Roman province and now is a region of southeastern France on the Mediterranean Sea adjacent to Italy. ... Pope Sixtus IV appoints Bartolomeo Platina prefect of the Vatican Library, fresco by Melozzo da Forlì, c. ... For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ...

Renaissance and Modern Times

Truffles reappeared in Europe during the Renaissance, where they were honored at the court of King Francis I of France. However, it was not until the 17th century that Western (and in particular French) cuisine abandoned "heavy" oriental spices, and rediscovered the natural flavor of foodstuffs. Truffles were very popular in Paris markets in the 1780s, imported seasonally from truffle grounds, where peasants had long enjoyed their secret. They were so expensive they appeared only at the dinner tables of great nobles —and kept women, Brillat-Savarin (1825) noted characteristically. The greatest delicacy was a truffled turkey. "I have wept three times in my life," Rossini admitted. "Once when my first opera failed. Once again, the first time I heard Paganini play the violin. And once when a truffled turkey fell overboard at a boating picnic." This article is about the European Renaissance of the 14th-17th centuries. ... Francis I of France (French: François Ier) (September 12, 1494 – March 31, 1547), called the Father and Restorer of Letters (le Père et Restaurateur des Lettres), was crowned King of France in 1515 in the cathedral at Reims and reigned until 1547. ... Portrait Gioacchino Antonio Rossini (February 29, 1792 – November 13, 1868)[1] was an Italian musical composer who wrote more than 30 operas as well as sacred music and chamber music. ... Niccolò (or Nicolò) Paganini (October 27, 1782 – May 27, 1840) was an Italian violinist, violist, guitarist, and composer. ...

Cultivation

Truffles long eluded techniques of domestication, as Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1825) noted with his characteristic skepticism: Dogs and sheep were among the first animals to be domesticated. ... —Brillat-Savarin Quite possibly the most famous French epicure and gastronome of all, Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (April 1, 1755 - 1826) was born in the town of Belley,where the Rhine then separated France from Savoy, to a family of lawyers in whom eloquence flowed. ...

"The most learned men have sought to ascertain the secret, and fancied they discovered the seed. Their promises, however, were vain, and no planting was ever followed by a harvest. This perhaps is all right, for as one of the great values of truffles is their dearness, perhaps they would be less highly esteemed if they were cheaper.

"Rejoice, my friend," said I, "a superb lace is about to be manufactured at a very low price."

"Ah!" replied she, "think you, if it be cheap, that any one would wear it?"

However, contrary to stubborn legends, truffles can be cultivated. As early as 1808, there were successful attempts to cultivate truffles, known in French as trufficulture. People had long observed that truffles were growing among the roots of certain trees, and in 1808, Joseph Talon, from Apt (département of Vaucluse) in southern France, had the idea to sow some acorns collected at the foot of oak trees known to host truffles in their root system. The experiment was successful: years later, truffles were found in the soil around the newly grown oak trees. In 1847, Auguste Rousseau of Carpentras (in Vaucluse) planted 7 hectares (17 acres) of oak trees (again from acorns found on the soil around truffle-producing oak trees), and he subsequently obtained large harvests of truffles. He received a prize at the 1855 World's Fair in Paris. The Vaucluse is a département in the southeast of France. ... The départements (or departments) are administrative units of France and many former French colonies, roughly analogous to English counties. ... The Vaucluse is a département in the southeast of France. ... For other uses, see Acorn (disambiguation). ... Carpentras is a city and commune in the département of Vaucluse in the Provence-Alpes-Côte dAzur région of France. ... The Vaucluse is a département in the southeast of France. ... Images of the Palais dIndustrie The Exposition Universelle of 1855 was a Worlds Fair held in Paris, France. ... This article is about the capital of France. ...

These successful attempts were met with enthusiasm in southern France, which possessed the sweet limestone soils and dry hot weather that truffles need to grow. In the late 19th century, an epidemic of phylloxera destroyed much of the vineyards in southern France. Another epidemic destroyed most of the silkworms in southern France, making the fields of mulberry trees useless. Thus, large tracts of land were set free for the cultivation of truffles. Thousands of truffle-producing trees were planted, and production reached peaks of hundreds of tonnes at the end of the 19th century. In 1890 there were 750 km² (185,000 acres) of truffle-producing trees. Grape Phylloxera (Daktulosphaira vitifoliae, family Phylloxeridae, superfamily Aphidoidea) is a serious pest of commercial grapevines worldwide, originally native to eastern North America. ... Binomial name Bombyx mori Linnaeus, 1758 For other senses of this word, see silkworm (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Mulberry (disambiguation). ... This article is about the metric tonne. ...

In the 20th century however, with the growing industrialization of France and the subsequent rural exodus, many of these truffle fields (champs truffiers or truffières) returned to wilderness. The First World War also dealt a serious blow to the French countryside, killing 20% or more of the male working force. As a consequence of these events, newly acquired techniques of trufficulture were lost. Also, between the two world wars, the truffle fields planted in the 19th century stopped being productive. (The average life cycle of a truffle-producing tree is 30 years.) Consequently, after 1945 the production of truffles plummeted, and the prices have skyrocketed. In 1900 truffles were used by most people, and on many occasions. Nowadays, they are a rare delicacy reserved for the rich, or used on very special occasions. Rural exodus is a term used to describe the migratory patterns that normally occur in a region following the mechanisation of agriculture. ... “The Great War ” redirects here. ...

In the last 30 years, new attempts for mass production of truffles have been started. Eighty percent of the truffles now produced in France come from specially planted truffle-fields. Nonetheless, production has yet to recover its 1900s peaks. Local farmers are opposed to a return of mass production, which would decrease the price of truffles. It is estimated that the world market could absorb 50 times more truffles than France currently produces. There are now truffle-growing areas in Spain, Sweden, New Zealand, Australia, Oregon, North Carolina, Tennessee and the UK.

Extraction

Looking for truffles in open ground is almost always carried out with specially trained pigs (truffle hogs) or, more recently, dogs. Pigs were the most used in the past, but nowadays dogs are preferred. For other uses, see Pig (disambiguation). ... The truffle hog or truffle pig is a working animal and the most popular and the classical method for extraction of truffles from temperate forests in Europe and North America. ... Trinomial name Canis lupus familiaris The dog (Canis lupus familiaris) is a domestic subspecies of the wolf, a mammal of the Canidae family of the order Carnivora. ...

The female pig's natural truffle radar as well as her usual intent to eat the truffle is due to a compound within the truffle similar to androstenol, the sex pheromone of boar saliva, to which the sow is keenly attracted. It may have been the strange attraction that pigs have to these fungi which prompted its discovery by early human populations. There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Fanning honeybee exposes Nasonov gland (white-at tip of abdomen) releasing pheromone to entice swarm into an empty hive A pheromone is a chemical that triggers an innate behavioural response in another member of the same species. ...

In New Zealand and Australia

The first black truffles (Tuber melanosporum) to be produced in the southern hemisphere were harvested in Gisborne, New Zealand in 1993. In 1999, the first Australian truffles were harvested in Tasmania, the result of eight years of work. Trees were inoculated with the truffle fungus in the hope of creating a local truffle industry. Their success and the value of the resulting truffles has encouraged a small industry to develop. A Western Australian venture had its first harvest in 2004, and in 2005 they unearthed a 1kg truffle that is potentially the largest ever harvested in the southern hemisphere. Production is expanding into the colder regions of Victoria and New South Wales. For other uses of Gisborne see Gisborne (disambiguation). ... This article is about the year. ... Slogan or Nickname: Island of Inspiration; The Apple Isle; Holiday Isle Motto(s): Ubertas et Fidelitas (Fertility and Faithfulness) Other Australian states and territories Capital Hobart Government Constitutional monarchy Governor William Cox Premier Paul Lennon (ALP) Federal representation  - House seats 5  - Senate seats 12 Gross State Product (2004-05)  - Product... Inoculation was a method of minimising the harm done by infection with smallpox. ... KG, kg or Kg can refer to several things: Kilogram, the SI base unit of mass. ... Motto: Peace and Prosperity Other Australian states and territories Capital Melbourne Governor HE Mr John Landy Premier Steve Bracks (ALP) Area 237,629 km² (6th)  - Land 227,416 km²  - Water 10,213 km² (4. ... NSW redirects here. ...

Culinary use

Because of their high price and their pungent taste, truffles are used sparingly. Supplies can be found commercially as unadulterated fresh produce or preserved, typically in a light brine. For the sports equipment manufacturer, see Brine, Corp. ...

White truffles are generally served uncooked and shaved over steaming buttered pasta or salads. White or black paper-thin truffle slices may be inserted into meats, under the skins of roasted fowl, in foie gras preparations, in pâtés, or in stuffings. Some specialty cheeses contain truffles as well. Percentages are relative to US recommendations for adults. ... This article is about the food. ... For other uses, see Fowl (disambiguation). ... Pâté de foie gras redirects here. ... Various pâtés and terrines Salmon terrine, with a cream and herb sauce A slice of Bloc de foie gras Pâté (French pronunciation: ; RP pronunciation: ; General American pronunciation ) is a form of spreadable paste, usually made from meat (although vegetarian variants exist), and often served with toast as... In cooking, stuffing is usually a mixture of various ingredients used to fill a cavity in another food item. ...

The flavor of black truffles is far less pungent and more refined than that of white truffles. It is reminiscent of fresh earth and mushrooms, and when fresh, their scent fills a room almost instantly. In 2006, designer Tom Ford released a perfume that lists black truffle as its first note.^[8] Loess field in Germany Surface-water-gley developed in glacial till, Northern Ireland For the American hard rock band, see SOiL. For the System of a Down song, see Soil (song). ... Basidiocarps (mushrooms) of the fungus Leucocoprinus sp. ... This article is about the fashion designer. ...

Truffle oil is often used as a lower-cost substitute for truffles to provide flavoring, or to enhance the flavor and aroma of truffles in cooking. However, most truffle oil is a synthetic product that contains no actual truffles.^[9] Truffle oil is a culinary ingredient added to foods that is intended to impart the flavor and aroma of truffles to a dish. ...

Pricing

As truffles are considered a delicacy, they command high prices. The world's most expensive truffle was a 1.5 kilogram White Palaian truffle found by Luciano Savini and his son after it was dug up by his truffle dog in northern Italy. It was sold for US$330,000 on 01 December 2007 to a Macau casino owner, Stanley Ho.^[10] Kg redirects here. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... December 1 is the 335th (in leap years the 336th) day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Stanley Ho, GBS (born November 25, 1921), also known as Ho Hung-sun, Stanley Ho Hung-sun (Traditional Chinese: ; pinyin: ), is an entrepreneur in Hong Kong and Macau. ...

References

Antonio Carluccio (born 1937 in Vietri sul Mare, Salerno, Italy) is a London-based Italian chef, restaurateur and food expert. ... BBC News is the department within the BBC responsible for the corporations news-gathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... is the 336th day of the year (337th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Hadith ( transliteration: ) are oral traditions relating to the words and deeds of Prophet Muhammad. ... is the 86th day of the year (87th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era in the 21st century. ... Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (April 1, 1755, Belley, France - February 2, 1826, Paris), a French lawyer and politician, was quite possibly the most famous French epicure and gastronome of all. ...

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

truffle

• "In the throes of truffle fever" by Tyrone Beason, Seattle Times, January 4, 2007.
• "How truffles look, taste and smell."
• Various Truffle storage methods, preparations, and recipes.
• Italian Truffle
• Truffle Recipes