Black Truffles from Perigord, Tuscany and YES – Australia.
Gourmet Gold. What a gift! Perigord Truffles - Expensive little fungi. Truffles are the most profitable legal crop in the world. The demand for black truffles, the most sought after truffles in the culinary world, far exceeds supply.
Aroma and the sweet taste of Perigord Truffles…and YES…from Australia.
Expensive little fungi that the ancient Romans and Greeks though were an aphrodisiac.
Well, I’m in good company; Louis XIV and Napoleon were also extremely fond of them.
Black Truffle Cultivation
Unlike the Italian white truffles, black truffles have been
cultivated for decades. Cultivation is very compatible with
vineyards – in fact, growing truffles can be seven to ten times
more profitable than growing grapes.
Truffles are the most profitable legal crop in the world. Truffle orchards are highly profitable – as much as 7-12 times more per acre than vineyards – and are an excellent and viable way to diversify land usage. The demand for black truffles, the most sought after truffles in the culinary world, far exceeds supply.
I used to think that black truffle production was almost
exclusively European – predominately France, followed by
Spain and Italy, with small amounts in Slovenia, Croatia and
Australia.
But now black truffles can be cultivated in select areas around the world; and Northern California and Australia especially Napa, Sonoma and Western Australia offer particularly suitable climates/soil.
I’ve been reading a lot about cooking with fresh truffles since my friends at the Wine and Truffle Company in Manjimup Western Australia sent me this mother lode. www.wineandtruffles.com.au
The aroma is earthy and rich; and it drives my gourmand friends crazy.
Pasta or risotto with truffles tops the list for the most popular way to enjoy these diamonds of the cuisine.
Learn about the Napa Truffle Festival – www.napatrufflefestival.com
and Truffle Cultivation at www.americantruffle.com
Try the TRUFFLE RISOTTO recipe adapted from one of Emeril’s Creole Christmas Books by Emeril Lagasse with Marcelle Bienvenu. Published by William Morrow.
Marybeth,
Thanks for the head’s up on getting fresh truffles this time of the year direct from Australia. Since the season’s are reversed, it must be prime time down there.
I can just smell that heady aroma from here.
Thanks for the tip.
Sandy (A confessed foodie…)
I’ll take advice, recipes and friendship any time from a “confessed foodie”.
Glad to know you enjoy fresh truffles all year and have tried the ones from Australia!
Thanks Marybeth for the information about fresh truffles. I always love those bullet point handy facts, like “most profitable legal crop in the world.” It’s good to know that due to the reverse seasons, one can get fresh truffles year round, should inspiration and pocket book allow.
If nothing else, one can at least talk about the yummy information and mentally enjoy the heady aromas of this black gold treasure.
Really enjoy your website.
BLACK GOLD TREASURE, Yep.My mouth waters with your description of the heady aromas.
With risotto, beef? pasta? Yum.