Truffles Flashcards
¿Qué es?
Subterranean fungus grow under oak and hazelnut trees
Fruiting body of an ascomycete fungus.
Taste profile
Taste profile: hard to pinpoint exact flavour, but i can throw a bunch of adjectives your way that do a good job nutty, earthy, meaty, oaky, gamey
Types and seasons
2 types: White and black. Many species of each type. Hunted in different seasons.
White: September-December. Black winter truffles: December-February. Other black truffles less prized collected throughout the year.
White truffle
Historically more expensive, just because they have a way more intense aroma and flavour.
How are they served?
Generally served raw over simpler dishes. As heat causes even more intense/over-powering flavour, due to enhanced diffusion of volatile compounds in the truffle. Shaved.
How are they found?
Traditionally and even today truffles hunted by dogs and pigs. Some countries have pig bans (Italy 1985). As they like to eat them/unearth them.
Compound truffle releases mimics pig sex hormone.
Certain flies lay eggs over truffles to help feed their larvae
Where are truffles found?
Hunted
Truffles stubborn and can only grow in very specific conditions.
Soil alkalinity, tree root concentration.
Farming technique: (1) Inoculate a tree seed w the spore (2) Plant it (3) Hope
Shelf life
Extremely short
5-6 days once you get them if they are fresh. Best kept refrigerated in paper towel in closed container. Contain aroma and prevent oxidation. Keep truffle dry.
Store w whole chicken eggs, cheese, animal fat, can be ‘truffleised’ absorb truffle aroma without “containing it”.
Why so expensive?
Difficult farming technique
Collection methods
Training of animals
Rarity of finding conditions for them to thrive in
Logistics and turn around time to prevent spoilage
How do you cook with them?
Generally speaking truffles have the most flavour at room temperature.
White truffles: do not cook or apply any heat to them. Very delicate.
Best served shaved raw on top of dishes.
Black truffles: more versatile, ok if they’re cooked slightly. Farewell folded into warm dishes.
Truffles and fat
Truffles like any other aromatic ingredient bind to fat.
Think: cheese, milk, cream, eggs, ice cream
Anything w fat can become “truffleised”
The Truffle Farm Canberra
Established 2016
Mount Majura, Majura valley
888m
Jayson Mesman: Owner, bought farm 2016 after joining the staff in 2009
Only capital city in the world that plays host to a truffle farm
Winter sport
Owner’s goal: Bucket list > shopping list
Not just fine-dining but also getting it into the kitchen, the home, and use it successfully.
Lots of events: Truffle degustation 7 course. Learn how to prepare these meals.
Dog is called DINGO.
Story of owner; used to be in police smelling of illegal substances. Very good dog trainer, high profile cases, recruited by truffle hunters.
Pack is made of orphaned Labradors given new life and purpose.
Harvest 2021
Expected season harvest ~400 kg of black truffles
Current retail prices (black): $2500-3000 / kg AUD
