Truffle: features and appearance of the mushroom aristocrat

  • Dec 13, 2020

Truffle is the most expensive gourmet mushroom on Earth. It is a parasitic organism and grows among the roots of trees. The truffle has won recognition from culinary experts and gourmets for its unusual taste and aroma. Thanks to this, he has become a welcome guest in any kitchen.

Truffle is the most expensive gourmet mushroom on Earth. Illustration for the article is used from the site discontdom.ru
Truffle is the most expensive gourmet mushroom on Earth. Illustration for the article is used from the site discontdom.ru

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Features and appearance

The unusual environment in which the truffle grows determines the variety. This mushroom grows in groups. It looks like an ordinary tuber.

The mushroom seems completely unattractive. It is enough to imagine potatoes, moreover, pretty spoiled and covered with earth, to roughly estimate the appearance of this "miracle". Nothing appetizing.

The mushroom reaches 10 cm in diameter, but there are also very small specimens, whose size does not exceed the dimensions of a walnut. Some mushrooms weigh up to 1 kg.

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The color depends on the type of mushroom. There are white and black truffles with different shades depending on the composition of the soil.

The surface of the truffle can be either loose or smooth. Often, it is covered with a kind of "warts", which are common bumps. In cross section, the truffle has a marble texture.

Truffle. Illustration for the article is used from istra-truffle.com

Most culinary experts and biologists have long doubted the edibility of this mushroom. As a result, studies have shown that truffle is not only safe for health, but also very useful.

In cooking, black and white are considered the best. They are used all over the world for making pasta, sauces and dressings. Also, truffle is served with eggs, rice and cereals.

Species diversity

The gourmet mushroom is classified by geography. There are several dozen varieties, but the most famous are only a few:

  • Black, or summer. A characteristic feature is the color change during life from white to dark gray. You can also observe the deformation of the truffle surface, which is dense in young mushrooms, but becomes looser with aging. On average, a black truffle grows up to 10 cm in diameter and weighs about 400 grams. This makes it quite large when compared to other species. Black mushroom is distinguished by the presence of algae smell and nutty taste.
  • Autumn burgundy black. Has a pronounced cocoa aroma and milk chocolate color. These truffles taste a little bitter. This variety is considered special because its aroma is not like other varieties.
  • Black winter. The color changes from red-purple to black throughout life. The black winter truffle is one of the largest. Its diameter reaches 20 cm, and its weight is 1.7 kg. The fruit body most often has a spherical shape and a large number of grooves on the surface. Among the features of this species, one can single out a musky aroma, which adds sophistication to many dishes.
  • Black French. depending on the period of development, it changes color from reddish brown to very black. The surface is completely covered with tubercles. The size is relatively small - up to 9 cm. The weight usually does not exceed 400 grams. Has a very persistent and strong aroma.
  • White Piedmontese. Irregular, tuberous shape. The average diameter is 12 cm and the weight is 300 grams. The surface color is reddish brown and the flesh is white. This is the most expensive variety. It tastes like a mixture of cheese and garlic.
White Piedmont truffle. Illustration for the article is used from the site irinaquaggia.tourister.ru

All these varieties of truffles are appreciated for their unusual taste. They are added to various dishes to give them a luxurious sophistication.

Have you eaten truffle dishes?

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