Where is tartufo grown

This technique was first recorded in As a result, the yields from truffle cultivation remain uncertain and can prove a risky investment to farmers. Have you ever tried a dish with truffles in it? Did you like it? Tell us in the comments below. Order a copy for your coffee table and settle in to rediscover the origins of your food. Free EU delivery. Learn more and preview inside.

Learn how your comment data is processed. Skip to content Product of Tuscany. Info Contact us Where we are. Here follow some practical suggestions for the development of new facilities in order to achieve greater success: Make sure that the selected area is well-suited for truffle cultivation. Physicochemical analysis of the soil. In general, all truffles favor distinctly calcareous soils, with a pH generally between 7 and 8 and a good amount of CaCO 3 limestone.

The black truffle turns out to be absolutely the most demanding as regards these parameters, while the whitish or marzuolo truffle is the most tolerant. In the specific analysis we will look naturally for the pH, overall CaCO 3 but especially the active one, the exchange capacity as well as the texture and grain size. Eco-climatic and vegetational analyses.

Check the climate, exposure, slope, altitude. Check water supply for possible irrigation pond, well, stream. Choice of truffle species of symbiotic plants and nursery supplier.

Among the many suppliers, we are able to give advice on and recommend the best in this field. In order to avoid the risk of encountering companies lacking credibility and hence of not achieving the desired results even after many years, we strongly recommend that you contact us for our opinion.

Please note, however, that full production arrives no sooner than the sixth or seventh year, considering the many variables that come into play climate, altitude, soil, irrigation, plant care, etc. The Trifolau is a figure that has been shrouded in mystery since its creation.

Truffle collectors know their forests in the smallest detail, they know the soil, the plants and the secret places where the precious truffles grow. Traditionally they wander around at night, without light and only in the company of their faithful dogs.

They share their secrets only with close relatives and brotherly friends, their wisdom represents a true small heritage of the land. The profession seems to be a rather relaxed one, but it is governed by clear obligations, and there is no room for improvisation.

To become a truffle collector, you must be at least 14 years old:. The knowledge of an experienced Trifolau naturally goes far beyond the essential theoretical knowledge taught in the courses. Over time, a truffle collector acquires a number of skills, he learns to recognize the symbiotic plants of the different truffle species. In addition, he learns to orientate himself in the different terrains to make his search much easier.

It is then essential obligatory to train a dog and to build up a relationship of trust, respect and empathy with him on their search. In order to obtain a permit for truffle hunting, you must register with the UTR regional authority in your province of residence.

The card is valid for five years from the date of issue. You can only obtain it if you are over 14 years old and have passed the relevant examination. A fee must be paid each year. The location and date of the exams can be requested from the UTR at any time, this also applies to information about training courses.

Courses are organised by the park administrators and municipalities. During the course you can learn how to recognize and search for truffles, while respecting the legal regulations. The aptitude test can not be underestimated, if you do not pass it, it can be repeated only twelve months later. The Italian law prescribes some special tools for a truffle collector to dig out the precious mushroom. These tools include the spade truffle collector's spade , a small hoe that is used to damage the soil and the delicate roots of the mushroom as little as possible.

Once the truffle is extracted from the ground, the hole must also be filled with soil to allow the growth of new truffles. Also for transporting the truffles you need special tools: either the typical truffle bag made especially for truffles or a vest similar to those used by mushroom pickers. It is recommended to wear knee-high boots as well as appropriate clothes to protect yourself against thorns, stinging insects and snakes.

A truffle collector should also always carry gloves for safe digging, a stick and first aid ointments. Originally pigs were used to find truffles, pigs have a very good sense of smell and can easily locate the underground mushrooms. But the pigs have a disadvantage: they are greedy and eat the truffle which they find immediately. Nevertheless, they were of great importance for their efficiency and sense of smell in the search for truffles.

Pigs were first replaced by dogs on the noble farms: man's faithful and tame friend was considered much more elegant and refined in his search.

The aristocrats also used dogs to entertain their distinguished guests. The use of the dog spread quickly and so the pig was used less and less.

Today the law forbids the use of pigs, because the animal causes a lot of damage to the ecosystem during its excavation work. The use of dogs is obligatory, as this is the only animal that can find the exact location of the truffle without digging around unnecessarily, thus not damaging the soil.

In Italy, the law stipulates that the dog must be specially trained for truffle hunting. A trained truffle sniffing dog is therefore indispensable and the training is not cheap, a well-trained dog can quickly cost up to Euros. However, it is not compulsory to buy an already trained dog or to contact a professional dog handler.

With a lot of care and patience it is possible to train a dog yourself, if the dog is a puppy you start with simple games which slowly become more complex exercises.

Once they are out of the ground, truffles need to be prepared and eaten quickly. Despite every best effort, truffles especially the prized white variety do not travel well. If you can time your visit around a truffle festival, it will be a highlight of your trip to Italy. A number of fairs or sagre food festivals and buyers markets are held throughout the year but most take place in fall or autumn.

Truffle festivals showcase this prized foodstuff, and they are usually devoted to a particular type of truffle. At the heart of this fair is the World Truffle Market, the perfect place to sample and purchase truffles.

This is the best known fair with international buyers visiting from all over the world keen try the famous Magnatum Pico. Acqualagna in Le Marche has not one but three truffle festivals. In winter there is a regional black truffle fair, held in late February. Later in the year is the regional black summer truffle fair in late July. The medieval hill town hosts this fair during November weekends, where visitors can taste fresh white truffles.

A great introduction to all things truffle, this festival features crafts and entertainment as well as food stalls. Local restaurants also get in on the act, offering truffle menus with reasonably priced specialities. Truffle recipes date back to Roman times, when they were prized by wealthy noble families and served at their banquets. These days each region where truffles grow have their own unique recipes and traditions using the prized ingredient.

But, however you eat your truffles they must always be eaten fresh. White truffles only remain fresh for around three days, while black truffles may last up to a fortnight if carefully stored.

The delicate flavor of a white truffle is destroyed by cooking. The only other ingredients are stock and seasoning allowing the truffle flavor to shine. Carpaccio with White Truffle is a traditional Tuscan recipe of uncooked, marinated beef steak served with salad, pine nuts, Parmigiano and white truffle flakes.