What is truffle?
Truffle has become an increasingly popular flavour with its deep nutty, earthy taste, but aside from a delicious ingredient, what is truffle? Truffles are a type of fungus that grow underground. They’re known as rare in the culinary world as they grow wild in forests and take 5-7 years to grow.
Truffles are a type of edible fungi, often used as a gourmet ingredient in cooking, especially in Italian, French, and Mediterranean cuisines. They have a distinct, pungent, earthy flavour and aroma that adds a unique touch to dishes such as pasta, risottos, sauces, and scrambled eggs. They are often shaved or grated into the food just before serving.
What does a truffle taste like?
Truffles have a strong, earthy, musky, and pungent flavour that is unique and somewhat difficult to describe. It is often described as nutty, woody, or even slightly reminiscent of garlic or cheese. The taste can vary depending on the type of truffle, but it is generally considered to be rich and intense, making it a popular addition to many gourmet dishes. Some people describe the flavour similar to a combination of mushrooms and nuts, with a slightly nutty aftertaste. It is often used sparingly due to its strong flavour and is typically grated or shaved over dishes just before serving, or added as an infused oil.
Different types of truffles
There are two types of truffles that are predominantly used in cooking, white truffle, and black truffle. The type of truffle used in a particular dish will depend on the desired flavour and the availability of the truffle.
Both white and black truffles are used in a variety of dishes to add a unique flavour and aroma. However, because of their different flavour profiles, they are often used in different types of dishes, with white truffles being used in lighter, more delicate dishes, and black truffles being used in more hearty, flavourful dishes.
Both are commonly used to make truffle oil, which is popular in cooking. Truffle oil allows chefs to impart flavour and smell into a dish without the need to source physical truffles. The oil is commonly used for a variety of dishes from truffle fries to pizza and pasta.
Black truffles (Tuber melanosporum)
Black truffles have a dark, rough exterior and have a strong, earthy flavour with hints of nuttiness. These are the most highly prized and expensive truffles, found primarily in France and Italy.
White truffles (Tuber magnatum)
White truffles are a delicacy, found more in Northern Italy, light in colour and have a smoother, more uniform surface. White truffles have a more delicate in flavour than black truffle, and are known for their intense, pungent aroma and nutty, garlicky flavour. They are more difficult to find than black truffles and are typically more expensive, due to their intense flavour and aroma, as well as their limited availability.