Among the most popular delicacies in the world, which are served in the best restaurants, truffle takes pride of place. This is the most expensive mushroom of all. Its high cost and incredible popularity are due to its exquisite taste, bright rich smell and the fact that it is very difficult to find, and even more difficult to grow on your own. Black truffle or perigorsk truffle is the most demanded of them due to its unique aroma.
Mushroom description
Among the 30 existing truffle species, only 8 can be eaten. Perigorsk, or French is considered the most refined. It is so rare and expensive that it is even called a black diamond.
The fruit body of the fungus is underground, not very deep, at a distance of 15–20 cm from the surface, but this greatly complicates the search. Black truffle is similar to irregularly shaped potato tubers with tubercles having 4–6 faces. The surface of the fungus is initially red-brown in color, but eventually becomes black as coal. If you press on it, the color of rust appears at this place.Important! Truffle is an expensive pleasure, so if you are offered to buy it cheaply - it is hardly real, and you should not eat it.
The pulp of a young mushroom is tough. Its color changes from gray or pink-brown to black-purple. White or red veins appear even in young mushrooms and remain in mature ones, forming a beautiful marble pattern. Therefore, the slice of black truffle turns out to be very beautiful, and they can decorate any, the most refined dish.
This type of truffle grows from 3 to 9 cm in diameter. Its flesh has a pleasant taste with a slight bitterness and an incredibly attractive truffle aroma that can be felt even from a distance. It is very unusual and consists of a whole bunch of different smells: it reminds someone of alcohol and chocolate, someone feels notes of damp forest and garlic.
Did you know? In the Moscow province, bears with torn teeth were often attracted to search for truffles.
Beneficial features
Even small amounts of this unique fungus can beneficially affect the body and its individual systems, and if you use it often, the effect will be even more noticeable.
- Black truffle has such useful qualities:
- it is considered an excellent aphrodisiac due to its incredible aroma due to the high content of pheromones;
- improves mood and strengthens the immune system;
- eliminates chronic fatigue;
- Helps fight gout
- truffle juice is used to treat eye diseases;
- acts as a very effective antioxidant;
- due to the high content of ascorbic acid and B vitamins, it is recommended in small quantities to children and pregnant women;
- as a part of cosmetics, it helps to get rid of wrinkles and age spots, makes the skin smooth and supple.
Where and when does black truffle grow?
The homeland of black truffle is France, or rather Perigord, from where its second name resembles. You can find the mushroom in the south of France, as well as in Italy and Spain. But in China they are successfully engaged in its cultivation. In Russia, you can often find white varieties, but black is also growing. It is more often found in the Caucasus and the Black Sea coast. In Ukraine and Belarus, these rare mushrooms are also found.
The fruiting bodies of mushrooms successfully coexist with the root system of trees, protecting it from diseases and weeds, and getting moisture and nutrients for it. They grow at a depth of no more than 20 cm from the surface of the earth, they can be found near the rhizomes of deciduous trees such as beech, hornbeam, and walnut. But most of all they are attracted to the roots of oaks. The presence of truffles under the tree may be indicated by the complete absence of any weeds, because this mushroom is very effective in combating them. Larvae of red flies lay near fruit bodies, therefore, according to their abundant accumulation, we can also conclude that there are fungi in this place.
Important! Truffles should be dug up very carefully so as not to damage not only them, but also the rhizome of the tree, giving them food for growth and development.
It is better to collect this species at the end of autumn or at the beginning of winter, while the earth has not yet frozen. The collection season lasts from November to March. For his search, or "hunting" use specially trained pigs and dogs. Previously, pigs were the main assistants in the extraction of mushrooms from under the ground, because they feel their aroma very well. But these animals do not mind eating truffles themselves, so they are increasingly being replaced by dogs that have been trained for 5 years.
They try to cultivate delicious mushrooms, but since this process is quite laborious and expensive, today they are cheaper and easier to buy, despite the incredibly high prices. It takes at least 5 years to grow; moreover, it is necessary to create the most favorable conditions, which is also expensive and difficult.
Truffle price
No wonder the Perigorsk truffle is called a black diamond, because its value eloquently testifies to the veracity of this comparison. In the European market, its price is $ 1,500–2,500 per kilogram, and in the Russian market it is $ 500 less. How much the mushroom will cost depends on its size. The most expensive underground mushrooms reach the size of an apple, but they are very few, only 1% of the total. 10% - a little larger than a nut, and they will cost less. The smallest, like grapes, are the cheapest. They are usually used to make truffle sauces.
Did you know? It is believed that the truffle contains anandamide - a psychotropic substance, similar in action to marijuana.
If you know how rare, tasty and fragrant these mushrooms are, there is no question why they are sold at the cost of diamonds. And the unusual color adds to them the uniqueness, formed due to 1500 pairs of genes that other mushrooms do not have. Of course, you can buy them only in specialized stores, and order them in proven good restaurantsotherwise you can get poisoned by eating a low-quality product.
Mushroom use
Truffles are one of the most exquisite delicacies in the world. The best culinary specialists create real masterpieces from them, having tried them at least once, it is impossible to forget their unsurpassed taste and aroma. One serving of such a dish usually does not exceed 5–8 g; it is weighed on ultra-precise scales.
These mushrooms are used in such options:
- add to the main dishes, rubbing on a special grater to make them more interesting and rich;
- combine with products without a pronounced taste;
- in France they add to chicken, spiny lobsters, eggs and even fruit;
- make a very original filling for pies;
- small mushrooms are used to make sauces;
- garnish with black slices caviar and other gourmet dishes;
- served raw, sliced in very thin slices, with wine or cream sauce;
- in Italy they are used to prepare expensive and high-quality anti-aging cosmetics.
Truffle is a true gourmet's dream, because its taste cannot be described, and the aroma has no analogues. In addition, this is not just an exquisite delicacy, but also a very useful product that benefits both adults and children, thanks to its unique composition. Black truffle is the most demanded, because it has very bright taste and incredible aroma, which fully justify the high cost of the mushroom.