What is a truffle?
Edible mushrooms are either Saprobes which grow on dead matter, Parasites
which grow on living plants or - as is the case with truffles - Mycorrhizal
which establish a symbiotic relationship with the roots of suitable host
trees.
Varieties include the Perigord Black Truffle (tuber melanosporum), the
Burgundy Truffle (tuber uncinatum /aestivum) and the Cep or Porcini mushroom
(boletus edulus).
Where do they grow?
Truffles can be found throughout the world but are most revered in southern
Europe, particularly France and Italy.
Suitable growing areas in Great Britain are likely to be over chalk
or limestone ie: Chiltern Hills; North and South Downs. Between Norwich
and Cambridge; Hampshire and Wiltshire into Dorset, between Hull and
Lincoln; north of Oxford; south to Gloucester; east to Bristol; the
south coast west of Portland; West Devon around Brixham; west of York
to Nottingham and parts of the Peak District. This is because truffle
cultivation requires soil with a high pH (in excess of 7.3 for Burgundy
truffle and 7.9 for Perigord Black truffle)'. Recent recorded 'finds'
stretch as far north as Darlington in Yorkshire.
How do you harvest truffles?
Traditionally, pigs have been trained to find truffles but dogs are
increasingly used these days. Truffle UK Ltd is able to provide dog
training. Another intriguing method of finding the truffles is to observe
where the truffle fly - la mouche - lays its eggs; it is believed that
they choose only the finest truffle in which to do this.
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'Black diamonds'
In 2004/5, the average price in European markets, per kilo, was.......
Black Truffle £600
Burgundy Truffle £280
White Truffle £1100
In January 2004, black truffle achieved £2000 per kilo.
Annual lifecycle of the Black Truffle
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February
Truffle are harvested through to the end of February
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March
The spores germinate and produce mycorrhizes
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April
The mycelium colonisies the earth and also produces mycorrhizas
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May
Reproduction occurs
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June
The truffle are formed
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July
They slowly grow
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August/
They grow much faster
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September
Continuing to grow
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October
They start to change
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November
They start to ripen
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December
They are now ripe
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January
Truffle are harvested
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