If you've already decided to buy black truffles because you've tasted them before and want to enjoy them again, we recommend reading this article. Here you'll learn more about this culinary delight through eight fascinating facts about black truffles. You're sure to find some of these unique characteristics you didn't know.
1. Truffle varieties: the black truffle is the tuber melanosporum variety
You should know that when we talk about black truffles, we're referring to the Tuber melanosporum variety . There are over 70 different species of Tuber , 32 of which can be found in Europe. You should also know that very few varieties are edible, but of those that are, none compare to the prized black truffle, Tuber melanosporum, in terms of its gastronomic value, aroma, and quality.
2. Wild black truffle and cultivation in Spain
The black truffle is a fungus that grows underground and forms a symbiotic relationship with a plant. For black truffle cultivation, various mycorrhizal plant varieties can be planted. These varieties include: holm oak (Quercus ilex), gall oak (Quercus faginea or pubescens), kermes oak (Quercus coccifera), hazel (Corylus avellana), and rockrose (Cistus sp.).
In Spain, the wild black truffle has historically been prominent in Aragon , although it could also be found in other parts of the peninsula. From the 1990s onwards, with the rise of mycorrhizal plantations, its cultivation spread to different regions of the country, with Aragon, Soria, and the Valencian Community also being notable. In Spain, on average, a black truffle plantation can take up to eight years to produce its first harvest.
3. Appearance of the black truffle
It is a mushroom with a blackish or brownish exterior, warty and rounded, although each one is uneven. Inside, it is dark with different white veins of varying shapes.
4. Black truffle season
Black truffles are harvested during the winter season using trained animals such as dogs. Thanks to the truffle's powerful aroma, the dogs track the scent to the fungus and mark its location underground. The black truffle (Tuber melanosporum) season lasts for a few months of the year, roughly from December to March , depending on the weather, which affects the truffle's maturation.
5. Truffle dogs
Truffle dogs are the key players in black truffle harvesting . It's very difficult to determine which breed is ideal for black truffle hunting, as there isn't one breed specifically suited for this activity. While wild truffles were traditionally harvested with shepherds' dogs, farmers and hunters are now more commonly used in black truffle cultivation areas.
Some of the most sought-after breeds for harvesting black truffles are: Lagotto Romagnolo, Breton Spaniel, Border Collie, Springer Spaniel, Labrador Retriever, Braco or Pointer, among others.
But a truffle dog isn't chosen solely for its highly developed sense of smell ; it must also be in peak physical condition, obedient , not easily distracted, patient, and calm, among other qualities. And of course, the bond between the dog and the truffle hunter is crucial , as it will be a determining factor in the search for the prized black truffle.
6. Preservation of the black truffle
The high value of black truffles in cooking has led to a search for ways to preserve them . This is due to their fresh and perishable nature, their short season, and the desire to preserve their precious aroma. All of this has driven the search for the best methods of preserving black truffles.
We recommend buying fresh, cleaned black truffles . Ideally, you should consume them as soon as possible, but if not, you can keep them refrigerated for up to 10 days. It's best to wrap the truffle in absorbent kitchen paper (truffles contain water and will gradually release moisture) and store it in a jar in the refrigerator. Change the paper if it gets wet and dry the jar.
It can also be frozen or preserved, but in these two processes the black truffle loses some of its appeal, aroma and flavor.
7. The aroma of the black truffle
The black truffle is prized in cooking not only for its flavor but also for its aroma. It has been identified that the black truffle contains more than 100 aromatic compounds, including earthy, fruity, sulfurous, caramel, and buttery notes.
The incredible aroma of the black truffle, so prized in gastronomy, has a biological significance . Because it grows underground, this aroma is how the truffle attracts animals to disperse its spores. Wild boars, for example, find them, eat them, and then spread the spores through their droppings.
8. History of the black truffle
According to history , the Egyptians, Romans, and Greeks already consumed truffles in their cuisine. They valued them for their culinary worth and for the medicinal properties they attributed to them . Furthermore, the Greeks and Romans considered them to have aphrodisiac properties.
Now that you know some of the interesting facts about the black truffle, you'll surely appreciate its gastronomic value even more , thanks to its aroma, its flavor, and its unique cultivation and harvesting methods. Welcome to Sentidos Truferos , the portal where truffle growers, black truffle consumers, and black truffle distributors have their place!
