The Truffle

~ The Truffle

~ Curiosity of the truffle

~ The white truffle of Alba

~ The varieties

The white truffle of AlbaThe truffle is a subterranean mushroom, that lives in total harmony with trees roots.

Truffles look like tubers, and consist of a fleshy interior, called "gleba" and are externally covered by bark called "peridio". They contain a high percentage of water, fibres and mineral salts, absorbed from the soil through tree roots.
The scientific name of this mushroom is Tuber Magnatum Pico, better known as "White Truffle of Alba", from the name of the ancient village, Alba Pompeia, which was the birthplace of a Roman Emperor: Elvio Pertinace.
The white Truffle of Alba, called in the Piedmont dialect "trifola", is considered by all  experts as the very best and it can be found exclusively in a limited area of the Langhe and Roero hills and in a particular zone of Monferrato.
The truffle is considered as a valuable product, that goes well with Italian cuisine, especially with the Piedmont food. In fact, a small quantity of truffle is sufficient a to give flavour to a dish or a sauce, by enriching them in taste and value.
Truffles are classified in several varieties, and the ones best known for gastronomic purposes are:

The truffles of Alba

  • The white truffle of Alba (Tuber Magnatum Pico)
  • The valuable black truffle, Tuber melanosporum Vittad
  • The summer black Truffle, Scorzone, - Tuber aestivum Vittad
  • The "Bianchetto" truffle or Marzolino, - Tuber borchii Vittad
  • The black "Moscato" Truffle, Tuber brumale var