Truffle mushroom is a type of dishes, simply mentioning it makes many individuals shake their heads. This kind of meals symbolizes wealth and often solely seems within the higher class.
For those that are captivated with meals and like to study dishes, truffle is likely one of the names that simply point out, will see its costly. But not everybody understands why this mushroom is so costly.
According to many legends, there was a farmer who found that his pig had dug part of the roots of a tree. The root was formed like a mushroom and after consuming it, the pig handed out. The farmer found it was a aromatic tuber and right now, that aromatic tuber is what we name a truffle.
Truffle has lengthy appeared in many alternative cultures, within the recipes of the traditional Egyptians, they ate mushrooms wrapped in goose fats. The Greeks and Romans used them for medicinal functions. However, this fungus disappeared throughout the Dark Ages when their aroma was thought-about “witchcraft”. Truffle didn’t seem on the desk of the the Aristocracy till the time of King Louis XIV of France within the seventeenth century. And now, its title is on the prime of the record of meals of the higher class.
However, the best way to harvest truffles is an especially curious factor. Although the pig was the primary to find this delicate fungus, they weren’t used to reap. Luca Stanzani, Vice President of Italian truffle model Appennino within the US mentioned:
“In Italy, it is illegal to use pigs to hunt truffles for several reasons. Firstly, pigs will eat truffles and secondly, they tend to destroy the natural fauna of the forest. Instead of using pigs, people use dogs to hunt mushrooms. And these dogs are trained to do this.”
Currently in the world there are two types of truffles, black and white. Not only are they different in color, their taste is also different. Black mushrooms have a rather refreshing taste like fruits, while white mushrooms have a slightly pungent smell like shallots and rosemary.
Chef Claudio Favero, culinary director at Sabatini Ristorante Italiano, says that white truffles go well with neutral-flavored dishes, often paired with cheese, potatoes, eggs, chestnuts and lobster. However, black truffles are less fragrant, can burn when cooked, so they are often used as sauces.
The price of black truffles can fall in the range of $ 400 / 450 grams, while white truffles are sold for a sky-high figure – $ 4,000. The main reason is based on supply and demand. Black truffles can be found anywhere in Europe, but white truffles are only found in Italy and a small part of Serbia. This is also the reason why white truffles are so expensive. The harvest of white truffles also depends on many factors.
Mushrooms will not grow in the summer (May – August) if the weather does not rain. The quality of truffles also depends a lot on the soil, the weather and the scent of the white truffles will also determine the price.
A famous truffle is the magnatum pico exclusive to the Italian region of Alba, a mushroom with a fresh, passionate and delicate aroma that is considered irreplaceable, making it the perfect ingredient to make palatability of a dish.
Umberto Bombana is a chef, also a co-owner of 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana, 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana and more 3-Michelin-starred restaurants in Hong Kong known as the “white truffle king”. Every 12 months, this chef holds a truffle public sale to lift funds.
In 2019, a Hong Konger paid $132,000 simply to purchase a 1kg white truffle. This mushroom later turned the ingredient to organize a 5-course meal for 1999 USD/individual.
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